It’s the illusion of “control” over all things, places and people that seems to be the primary addiction we all wrestle with.

I’ve given much thought to the issues addressed in “Cost”, as well, and see no rosy epiphanies ahead for the American family. It is too broken for many folks to cope with. That issue of control again, I suspect, ruins the natural ebb and flow of communications between people. It is far too easy to ignore the number on one’s cellphone and to delete the emails of a relative. We exile one another with ease.

Thanks, Ms. Robinson. I look forward to reading “Cost” and hope that you record the book, as well. You’ve got a GREAT reading voice.

A man to Raxana Robinson: You apparently associate with a particularly narrow subset of men. To suggest that men are less prone to living in fear of making grave mistakes or are less likely to compulsively seek perfection than women is silly and surprisingly naive. To continue you gross generalization, many men might behave in a way that differs from many women but the noose of perfection is just as tight. (By the way, Norman Mailer and Robert Frost are not good examples of typical male behavior.)

Waking, however late to OnPoint today, and hearing my story so well presented felt like a gift. The guilt and frustration of Mom with adult child, of several, whose life seems to be centered on blaming family for her life. Not so much drugs but more of possible Bi-Polar or similar condition that creates havoc in almost every contact. My Bucket List entry is to learn to communicate with focus and not melt into puddles of tears under the continuous attacks generated by the pain of being excluded from family. It’s not lack of caring, but more a need to survive the onslaught. Children prove to be colateral damage and miss the support as well. Have yet to read the book but it will be a gift to myself and others of my family. Thank you for having the ability to put it into words so well.

This comment is for the caller whose brother died of an overdose of painkillers after becoming addicted after an industrial accident. Your brother probably had post-traumatic stress disorder from the accident and probably did not receive any treatment beyond prescriptions for pain relief. Perhaps you may be experiencing traumatic grief as a result of his death and your feeling of powerlessness to prevent it. You may find some strength and hope by remembering your brother or memorializing him in some way. While you are going through this very difficult time, draw on your own resilience, that is, whatever has brought you through difficulties in your life before. If you find yourself overwhelmed and your distress does not lessen, seek professional help. Thank you for your courage in sharing your story; I am sure it resonates with many, many people.

The blog posted above was nothing more than a tasteless, crass, self-serving, advertisement. Why didn’t you post your office phone number as well and offer a 10% discount for counselling to all On Point listeners if you call in the next fifteen minutes?

Haven’t read the book, but found the discussion interesting. A bit disappointed, however, at yet another drug-abuse-family story that seems to focus on parents grappling with a child’s use of illegal drugs. I have spent most of a lifetime watching a parent use alcohol to destroy self and family. Doing so has made me a bit impatient with the stereotype of drugs as illicit substances used by the younger generation. Perhaps not as exotic or dramatic on the surface, but I can assure you that the life of an ACOA with aging parents is not devoid of unwanted drama and emotional complexity. Perhaps the novel waiting to be written…