Reply #74: I love your story and the point it makes that love and support can help people turn things around

[laughingliberal]

I have been in recovery from alcoholism for 32 years. Through the years I have battled severe depression and would not be alive today were it not for the caring of those who could care about me when I had not the energy to care about myself. Some years back the recovery communities became enamored with the idea of 'tough love.' I understand the concept but think it is dangerous in the wrong hands. In order to practice tough love it is first necessary to love. I've seen far too many hardasses in various programs who used the idea of 'tough love' as an excuse to be assholes to people. Thank you for sharing your story.