6A FEATURES The horrible pain of addiction Dear Annie: I have a real prob- and are a hard, cold woman.” He lem with my 52-year-old son, lives in the same town I do and con- “Robert,” who is cross-addicted. stantly calls for favors. He needs He’s struggled with substance long-term rehabilitation, and I am abuse since he was 14 years old. fed up with his abuse. What should Years ago, he got sober for a stretch I do? — Tired and Exhausted Dear Tired: Addiction is a of five years, so I know he is capa- cunning and opportunis- ble of getting clean. But DEAR tic disease, one that leads he’s using now. its victims to go to great He is very verbally ANNIE lengths to further afflict abusive, especially to me. themselves. I’m so sorry I tried to help him for two it claimed the life of your years by having him live other son. with me. I kicked him out Please know that when when I found needles and Robert says monstrous other paraphernalia in the things to you, it’s his ill- house. Of course, he lies Lane ness talking, not your son. like a rug and recently Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. Tell him that you love claimed he was robbed of and support him but you his medication. He had me running to the police to file a report will not love, support or enable his of the robbery and then had me go addiction. That’s that. Don’t let him to the pharmacy to pick up a refill. guilt you into lending him money; I have had it up to my eyeballs don’t let him hoodwink you into and cannot help him. He always refilling prescriptions. And consider attending an sends texts saying, “You never loved me,” “You hate me,” “You Al-Anon or Nar-Anon Family talk to me like I’m Dad.” (He is just Groups meeting so you can hear like his father.) His brother died of from others who know painfully an overdose, and he throws that in well what you’re going through. my face — even to the point that I cannot recommend these groups he says I enjoyed watching him enough. Dear Annie: I was so pleased die! He is so sick, and when I say we need a long break, he turns that with your response to “Speech around to: “You have no feelings Problems in Pennsylvania,” saying that the writer offered “an invalu- able perspective.” The writer is in a unique place, as the serving job he or she has gives him or her repeated opportunities not only to educate others but also to face his or her own feelings regarding having a speech disorder. It sounds to me as if the writer is projecting his/her own emotions about the problem onto others. I would suggest that the writer say straight out and very kindly that he/ she has a speech problem and do a little sharing. Also, most people who comment on a person’s accent mean it as a compliment, not an insult. At any rate, this is my per- spective, one based upon my being a certified speech language pathol- ogist for over 45 years. The writer may consider receiving some coun- seling to clarify and study his/her own feelings, as well as to get sup- port and encouragement. This per- son sounds very capable and just could use a little boost! — Speech/ Language Pathologist, Retired Dear Speech: Thank you for sharing your expertise. I’m printing your letter with the hope that it pro- vides encouragement to “Speech Problems in Pennsylvania” and anyone else coping with speech issues. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). People are paths, not points. Knowing a person at one time of life is different than knowing that person at another. Your path will join with someone else’s, and you’ll take the next stretch together. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The work that used to be hard will get easy. For fleeting but profound moments you’ll lose yourself in it, your senses alert and alive in a feeling of oneness with all things. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Do not accept that the way things are is the way things have to be. First of all, to accept such a thing would be a slight to that amazing imagination of yours. And secondly, you have more heart than that. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are valid in what you need. If the person you seek it from cannot provide it, that’s nobody’s fault, just a mismatch. The passing of blame confuses things and stalls the search for a better match. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). From belladonna to foxglove, many poisonous plants are the source of lifesaving medicines. So it is in your current circumstance. In the right context, a low dose of the source of toxicity will actually make you better. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). No matter how well you plan or how many resources you have to work with, life will still offer challeng- es. You’ll handle them better when you’re well-rested and fed. Set yourself up for suc- cess: Get more sleep. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are emo- tions you have a low tolerance for feeling. These get locked up in certain areas of your body. They become like an armor of tightness, FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE tension and pain. To release it is to free your- self to creativity and fun. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The key to rich- es is extremely simple these days; make more and bigger deposits than withdrawals. When there are people around you who are doing the same thing it will be much easier. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You usually look ahead, push forward and march on without looking back. But right now you might feel rather stuck until you can sort through and organize the baggage of the past to make it light enough for travel. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Many things can be true. The cynical view may be true, but that doesn’t make it better than any other view. There’s a nastiness in cynicism that makes it destructive to the very things worth cherishing. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If you read much but believe little of it, you’ll find yourself in the sweet spot of being reasonably informed, mightily empowered and perhaps even wise. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Start the social planning straightaway. To hold out for the wit- tiest people in the world so that you can have the best dinner party since the dawn of time is to set yourself up for a frozen dinner for one. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 28). You’ll make changes in the structure of your days to generate a greater sense of flow through this work of art called life. Your favorite people to be around this year are the ones who not only accept who you are but also help you become the fullest version of yourself. You’ll attract even more of this type. Financially, there’s a boom in March. Libra and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 3, 33, 38 and 50.