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Stories of Success: Edith Richardson – A Family Affair Edith Richardson Success Story All too often the families of individuals with a mental illness or substance abuse issues live life in constant fear and worry. Their problems, their emotional struggle, and their concerns go unheard. For Edith Richardson, the effects of her husband's struggle with drugs have been life altering. Richardson, a 38 year-old Columbus native and mother of two, is also the wife of a recovering cocaine addict. For some time Richardson was not sure if her life would ever get back on track. Richardson and her husband have been married for 15 years. It was not until about two years ago that she noticed a change, "I thought he was seeing someone else, I thought he was having an affair," Richardson remembers. "I was wrong." After questioning her husband after another long night in the streets and away from home she recalls, "He just said it—I am doing powder, and I was shocked." Looking back Richardson can see the signs, "He was losing weight, he didn't have his money for bills, and he was spending less and less time with the family, our family." Richardson and her husband have two children, who both took their father's illness hard. "They didn't understand what their father was going through." Richardson recalls. Her husband had always been loving and spent a lot of time with his family, but once the drugs started something changed, "We all were struggling to keep it together; I especially felt I had to be strong for my children, I wanted them to know we would get through this." As the wife of an addict, Richardson found herself holding her emotions and feelings in, "I was depressed, I did not talk about it, I was dealing with it on my own, and it was hard." Initially, her husband tried to treat his addiction alone. Soon after a failed attempt and arguments with his family, he found the help he needed at Columbus Area's Bell Center. Richardson remembers how helpful the Bell Center program was, "They offered a few family counseling sessions that really helped me get some things out of my system." "Being married to a drug addict is hard, and dealing with it is even harder. You don't know who to trust, and who can help you, but I am glad we found help. I am thankful for ADAMH and the Bell Center program." Richardson's husband will celebrate his one year anniversary of sobriety this week and she could not be more proud of herself and her family for sticking together through this tough time. Richardson understands there is still a long road ahead and she is confident her family will make it through. |
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