Dear Eric: Three years ago, I invited my 24-year-old son to stay with me in my one-bedroom condo while he saved for a place of his own. During that time, I struggled with alcohol and then needed emergency surgery for something unrelated that has devastated me physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.

I maintained my sobriety for five months and I was working on myself, and I thought I was doing well by communicating but it just seemed to make him angrier. He was dismissive and demeaning and defensive toward me, and I felt very unloved and unappreciated.

I recently had a very brief relapse and reached out for emergency psychiatric help.

He came to the hospital, and we had an honest conversation. He opened up to me about the trauma I had caused him during my months of drinkin

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