A story of hope, healing, and great love, Finding Myself in a Nightmare: A Mother's Healing Journey through her Daughter's Addiction is a raw, vulnerable account of how one mother navigated through the many ups and downs inherent in caring for an addict. With a deep desire for her experience be used to help others, Judi Turkheimer invites the reader into her most private thoughts and feelings as she rides a five-year roller coaster of strong emotion.
Judi takes us into her home and heart where we learn about her day-to-day struggles loving an addict; how her biases, faulty beliefs, resistance, and ignorance showed up; as well as the tips and tools she developed to keep herself forward moving. Seeking to save her daughter from the grips of drug abuse, Judi realized she had to save herself as well. She learned that unconditionally loving her daughter necessitated tough love and, also, self-love. Once she began doing the hard work of healing her own demons, feelings of joy and hope started to come out from the shadows. Reminding herself to be grateful, set boundaries, take small steps, and be present in the moment became her full-time job.
Finding Myself in a Nightmare: A Mother's Healing Journey through her Daughter's Addiction is a story of triumphs, mistakes, pain, discovery, connection, and trust. It is an example of what anyone loving an addict might see and feel. It is also a love letter in which Judi validates, supports, and encourages anyone enduring the nightmare.