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.