If You Love Me: A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Addiction and Recovery

I put my name on a waiting list so I'd get "If you love me" as soon as it was released. That was months ago--in fact, several seasons have come and gone since then. Any one who is ensnared in the throes of a loved one's addictions will understand that while in the foxhole; or while venturing out when the coast may be clear to rally forces, or while standing toe to toe with the beast of addiction itself, reading a book takes a kind of quieting of the mind. I quieted my mind and just today finished this show-stopper.Oh, had I read it when I received it, I would felt validation sooner. I would have felt community. More hope. More inspiration. More resolve.I have never read a memoir more tell my story. Or my son's.Cavanagh writes as if with a surgeon's scalpel performing exploratory surgery which exposes the fears we most hide, the guilt, the anguish, the terror, fury and tears. As she exposed hers, she does ours. And it is vindicating. Connecting. Powerful. And empowering.I have never had trouble advocating, fighting or keeping hope in my pocket. What I have had great trouble with is believing fully I should be. Above everything of the many things this book gave me, is one: the rock-solid, deep-in-my-gut--and heart, immutable knowledge that loving my child has never been and will never be, wrong. In any other circle that might be inconceivable to question but too many of us have gotten help to second-guess loving our child who suffers from the disorder of addiction. Two: loving our children isn't instead of loving ourselves; in fact in order to do the former we must the latter."if you love me' will be one of those books I'll forever remember when I first read it, where, and what its impact on my life was. Thank you. Thank you, Maureen Cavanaugh and thank you to your daughter, Katie.

I found Maureen and her book, If You Love Me: A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction, just when I needed to. I don't believe in coincidences but that God works through others that He places on our path if we're open to follow His plan. Having five years of sobriety myself did not prepare me enough to have a child struggle with the dual diagnosis of mental health and substance use disorders. Early on in our three year struggle to help my teen I wanted him to do what I did just the way I did it even though I knew he was on his own journey.At the height of my son's struggles I heard Maureen on friend's weekly recovery webcast, Slanging Hope, and realized that I could learn from her experience. 'If You Loved Me' did not disappoint as it told with vivid detail her daughter Katie's battle and I felt like I could feel both of their struggles. Like A Beautiful Boy, it Maureen told how it impacted the whole family, but I felt like I could relate more to Katie and Maureen. It should me what I needed to see ...that my son HAD to want it for himself. Since reading Maureen's book I've had many twists and turns to my son's journey but know I can only let him know he's loved, be there to help him get the help he wants, pray for God to reach him and be an example in my own recovery. Maureen and Katie's story is also a wonderful, touching, powerful reminder that there is ALWAYS HOPE!If you're a parent in this fight please read this book and also search out Maureen's parent support groups; Magnolia Addiction Support!

I could feel the pain, the love and the hope you have. I know now you truly understand when I and so many others reach out to you for help. It's not that I don't know where to look, it's the overwhelming anxiety and paralyzing fear that makes me unable to think straight. Even now, when things are somewhat okay, I cannot function normally. My brain has been hijacked as well. Your love and your hope for your beautiful daughter, Katie, and all those suffering is so powerfully evident in your story. You admit to the reader that you don't have the answers but the one constant you do have is love. Love, and the power that it has and the hope it allows. Your book was beautifully written and I could imagine each circumstance clearly and vividly. Your book will bring new insight to those unfamiliar with this disease firsthand. Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for all the love you give so freely and for always being there for me and so many others. Peace my friend. I love you.- Maura

I just received my copy of "if you love me" written by Maureen Cavanagh who I am proud to call my friend. I read it from cover to cover in just a few hours and must say I felt as if I was right beside her through every step of her and Katie's journey. I felt the fear, panic, terror, and anxiety that are so very real and still raw with so many parents that have or are still traveling down this path with a child. What I felt the most was the Love and Hope that Maureen never lost through it all and shows what a loving, caring, and devoted mom she is!!! Please if you have ever wondered what it's like loving a child who suffers from SUD or if you have ever judged someone who is a parent or even the person themselves who suffers from this insidious disease, Read This Book!!! Thank you my friend for sharing your personal journey with the world as I'm sure it will help so many💗💗

We often hear news stories about the epidemic of addiction, but for most it remains an abstract concept. Maureen Cavanaugh’s beautifully expressed personal story takes you on her journey to rescue her daughter from the clutches of heroin addiction. It brings to light not only the horror of this addiction for the person afflicted and everyone in their life, but also the shifting understanding about addiction being a disease, just like cancer or diabetes, and therefore not the fault of the addict or his/her parents. I read this book from cover to cover because I simply couldn’t put it down. It was heartwrenching but injected with humor and heartwarming at the same time. It was also inspiring to learn about Maureen’s foundation and her close circle of other parents who are working tirelessly to help others dealing with this disease. This is a MUST READ!

Very good book, will buy it again

Amazing book.