Caught up on the old thread now
Originally Posted by
Adnamaeel 
The woman I referred to last week as the walking cautionary tale melting down in my front yard was admitted to the ICU today with a stomach full of blood. She's been abusing painkillers for more than 30 years, and it just caught up with her. It's not a surprise to anyone. I do feel bad for her, though she's made her choices. she must be scared.
And still, and here's a look into my twisted mind, I can't stop from thinking that I guess she's a prone cautionary tale now. What's wrong with me?
Nothing much that I can see Adna
I don't like reducing other addicts and alcoholics tragedies to cautionary tales for my own benefit either...there must be an enormous amount of pain and fear - and a *story* there...
I think simply reducing it to a cautionary tale can trivialise all that.
That being said, we're human and human reactions are not always laudatory.
You're looking after yourself and your own recovery - I'd expect no less, especially at this point.
Later you may be able to help this woman, or others like her, I'm sure.
I found that once I felt secure in my recovery I was able to look past the cautionary tale and see the person behind that
D