Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2015
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Amy Dickinson
Column: Ask Amy
Page: C6

SMELL OF POT PROVOKES JITTERY FLASHBACKS FOR PARTY POOPER

Q I am in a predicament. I have a good new friend who is having a 
birthday party he wants me to attend. The problem is that he has 
informed me that the party will be "alcohol and 420 friendly." I 
don't have issues with the alcohol, and I live in Washington state, 
where recreational-marijuana is legal, so that is not the issue either.

My problem is that I have PTSD caused by an abusive stepfather who 
was a marijuana addict. The very smell of pot smoke sends me into 
flashbacks and gives me jitters. Should I attend this party and do my 
best to hold it together? If not, how can I tell my friend why I am 
not coming, without him feeling I am judging him? - NERVOUS IN WASHINGTON

If you have PTSD, you should not risk your health to attend a social 
gathering. Smells have a very powerful effect on our minds and 
memories, and marijuana has a distinctive smell.

Your choices are to tell the truth or to tell a social lie, which 
might contain a version of the truth. An example might be, "I'd love 
to go but I'm extremely allergic to pot smoke and I can't be around 
it. I'm bummed to miss your party and I hope you have a great time."

Because this issue is likely to come up in the future, you should 
definitely mention that you can't be around pot smoke. Marijuana 
comes in many nonsmokable forms, and you may find that you can 
tolerate being around people who choose to use it, as long as it is not smoked.

Check in with a therapist to discuss strategies to cope with this 
particular trigger; given the state-by-state tumbling down of 
marijuana restrictions, you will definitely be confronted with its 
smell, and you should prepare yourself as well as you can.

- ---

Q About six years ago, I made a personal cookbook for my daughter for 
Christmas. It took me two months and I had a great time. The recipes 
are from family or were just ones we both liked. At the time, she was 
40 years old. I know she threw the book away. It wasn't in her 
kitchen and I asked her about it. She couldn't give me a real answer. 
I took it personally, even though I know that's useless. Included was 
a recipe for something her stepfather used to make (and she used to 
love). I asked her recently if he ever hurt her and she said no. I 
put a personal note on many recipes, saying when I cooked it, who was 
there, tips about cooking, etc. She's seeing a counsellor 
occasionally (something I'm paying for) but wrote me the other day 
that she hadn't been going because she wasn't dating anyone, and I 
guess therefore had no problems. What's going on? It really hurt and 
I guess this is indicative of a greater issue. - HUNGRY MOM

You should not be paying for your daughter's therapy. Therapy is very 
valuable, but your daughter won't value this experience unless she 
pays for it herself.

I agree that your gift is very thoughtful and your daughter's 
response is unkind. But you seem like a mom who wants to push a 
particular agenda - and even if it's a sweet, savoury and delicious 
agenda, it's the pushing your daughter responds to. In her way, she 
is pushing back. Take the money you are spending on her counselling 
and put it toward your own.

- ---

Q I felt sorry for "Upset Son," who was mourning his mother and 
didn't want his father's current wife to be called "Grandma" by the 
kids. He should ask them to call her Grandma - followed by her first 
name. He can tell the kids about their "Grandma Mary," who is gone 
now, but still alive in his memory. - BEEN THERE

Many readers made this suggestion. Thank you all.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom