l
es
as learned and
ful truth through
nt with Al-Anon.
edibly
to see
se issues
and what
y dealing
ease,” she
disease
disguises.
ible, confounding
utions. “I’m a
cts and logic
hen addiction
one you love,
nse of what’s
they ruining
? Why are they
elves in school?
wing away
their life?
icult to see
es and
ou’re really
dealing with—a disease,” she
reflects. A disease with many
disguises.
When Heide saw her happy-golucky,
loving child “turn into an
alien” as he entered his teens, she
summoned “all the king’s horses
and all the king’s men”—doctors,
psychiatrists, therapists—to get
answers and help. The onset of an
anxiety disorder and other health
issues were identified, but none of
the experts recognized Chip’s early
drug use and its implications for
his mental health.
Heide eventually sent Chip to a
therapeutic boarding school for
two years where he excelled in
every way. She felt as though she
had her son back. But Heide’s
“good, that’s taken care of”
relief didn’t last long. Returning
home, Chip picked up where he’d
left off with substances. The
consequences of his drug use
escalated to the point Heide made
the agonizing decision to ask him
to leave their house. When he was
ready to go to treatment, she’d be
there for him.
—