Tegan, 22, QLD

Child of addiction

I love it how when they ask for 'your story' and it's a matter of where too begin i guess?

I dont put my story down too often but when i saw this page i thought that other children may be able to relate..

I guess i'll start with this... I am the other child of 2 heroin addicts. as a run down i guess i have been too more schools then i can count one hand, i have stayed in motels, campervans, police raids, car pull overs, being dragged out of school, court apprences,
dishonesty to friends and family, staying with family, living life on the run, being embarressed too bring friends over, making up stories where 'dad' is when he was in jail, having no respect for authory, looking after my parents, making sure the rents paid so theres not another brech notice, taveling overseas on the run so your father can avoid court,wondering how your parents can fall asleep in the bathroom for hours on end, not wanting too get in their way when there sneezing and vomitting, hopeing that they could get some drugs just so they would i guess be normal again, and the worst of all i guess for me was having this sick gut feeling everytime there was a knock on the door.

Sounds pretty crazy i guess but that was my reality.. i was always told as a child 'what happens in the family stays in the family' and it did. Nobody knew anything we always had a story for EVERYTHING... no doc's noticifications, nothing.. did anyone notice? or did no one speak up?

I saw counsellor's, psycs you name it... i would give them a run down of my past and there jaw would hit the floor.. i gave up after awhile. Did i touch drugs? never. Yeah at 22 i have a drink every now again, anything else nope! no way in hell. Why? i guess the main reason for me this might sound strange is that i know that i will probably like it.. and wont stop... so i dont try anything! they tell you in school about what drugs do to your body? too be honest when you have been through what i have you dont really give a f"". I know what it does to your life, i have lived in an addicts shoes straight. and that's somthing i never want to go through.

Where am i today?
Well when i left school i went to TAFE and studied diploma of community welfare work. I then worked as a youth work at JJ, did some volunteer work at DRASTIC who linked me in with YODA which was the best thing i could have done... i have been getting counselling for about 1 year now and i have come leaps and bounds.. i have moved out of home, traveled to Europe, work full time as a drug and alchol welfare worker and am studying too be a social worker at the moment!

Is my journey over? No of course not! haha anybody who can relate too this knows that parents suffering from addiction and mental health it is never over! but no i have support and knowing that i am not in this alone.. theres no more sercrets.. and people understand.

If i hadnt have been linked in with YODA i dont know where i would be today.. Those involved have been the only people that actually listened without 'reffering me on' diagnosing me with this and that and i guess believed that i could do better? and sometimes that all we need too run on is abit of belief and hope. And for that i am ever so grateful.