I know that I made the right decision to distance myself from my daughter’s father in order to remain clean. However, I feel guilty for leaving him in the dust while he is still sick and suffering. It was a life or death decision for me. I needed to save my life, give our daughter a chance at a happy life with a healthy happy mother. I just hope he figures out that his way just doesn’t work and finds his way to the program before it’s too late. He never left me for 9 years even when I gave him every reason to again and again. I’m allowed to put these boundaries in place right? I really haven’t even spoken to him. He made me angry and I felt defeated after our phone call because he kept saying that we could see each other at a meeting and that wouldn’t hurt me and my recovery etc etc. Even after explaining over and over he just wouldn’t really respect what I was telling him I needed for me. He has his plan to get his shit together and it doesn’t include treatment. It sounds like insanity when you hear him say it. I just feel so helpless for him. There is nothing I can do but let him destroy himself and I can’t be by his side. It hurts but I need to come first for once. I’m at peace for once on my life. I’m learning to love myself and the more I heal and the more peace I feel within it’s like the further away I feel from him.
It’s extremely important to have boundaries set in place, there are there for a reason. It doesnt matter what you relationship is with someone, if they are toxic, negative energy and drain, then they gotta go.
You are so strong! Don’t let guilt consume you, I promise it gets easier. A lot of women never have the courage to leave. So be proud of yourself, your daughter and you come first. If you given it chance after chance and done everything you could then all this is on him. Sadly to say but sometimes leaving someone is what it takes for them to change. If you can still support him from afar then do, but if you just can’t at the moment that’s fine. We can’t help others or make others happy if we aren’t. Hugs!
I am currently in a similar situation and I admire you for choosing yourself and your daughter! I have 2 girls and been with their father for 15 years. He wasn’t perfect before the drugs but he was perfect for me. 6 years ago he convinced me to try meth with him and I did, I guess I was just lucky enough to realize a year into our addiction everything was falling apart. As an optimistic person I felt consumed by the darkness and knew I was hurting my kids so i begged him to stop. We moved states got clean and eventually came back home and a few years later I caught him using again. I admit I caved and started using with him again for about a year until I couldn’t stand the spiral that was yet again my life. I stopped and really didn’t struggle with it but it’s been 2 years of him lying, sneaking, fighting, him apologizing and being clean for a few days before it starts all over again. It got so bad I became physically violent with him bc I couldn’t take the BS anymore. He was truly a nightmare 24/7. I’d come home from work and he was just waiting to argue and call me the most disgusting names to hurt me. There was no peace in mine or my kids life so I went and filed for a DVP but he still couldn’t stay away. He tried to pull his car Infront of me and my kids on our way to trick or treat and the cop just happened to be behind him and arrested him. He said he was clean but he was charged with simple possession (meth of course) and it’s been one whole week today we haven’t spoken. My heart is broken, I cry more days then I don’t but I have an amazing support system so I’m just trying to get through one day at a time. I feel the same way you do, guilty for not being there when I feel like he has nothing or no one but as I’ve said, I tried everything for years and nothing changed. I’m afraid he won’t love me anymore (which is sick, and clearly I have codependency issues) but I just want my husband back, sober, loving, faithful, friend that he was before those evil drugs stole him from us and I’m sure you feel the same! Just know your not alone!
He is the only one who can save himself. His fate is not on your account. If leaving him was a matter of your own life and death you made the right choice and hopefully your guilt fades over time…