Watching any individual suffer from addiction is emotionally draining. When that individual is your child, this situation can be even more difficult. You may feel a wide range of emotions during this time, but there are many things you can do to support your child and yourself during this time.
Take Care of Yourself
To properly support your child, you need to take care of yourself and regulate your emotions. Just as this pertains to any relationship, it is needed to support your child as well. You may feel sorrow, anger, blame, failure, and other hurtful emotions toward yourself and your child. Managing those emotions and understanding the situation from a calmer perspective will give you a clearer baseline on what form of support your child needs and how you can help them receive it.
Let Your Child Know You’re There
It is important to not make your child feel they are a failure because of their actions. Just as you may be feeling, your child may feel that they have let you down and are a failure. It is important to remember that your child working through addiction does not mean you have failed as a parent, nor have they failed as your child. Addiction does introduce a difficult obstacle to overcome for your child and family; however, they still have full potential to succeed. In the meantime, and always, they are still loveable.
Reminding your child that you support them and are a resource they can always reach out to can be very helpful to them during this time. Many children worry their parents will be disappointed or blame them for their wrongful choices leading them to this situation. Allowing them to see that you understand and only want what’s best for them can build trust in the relationship and encourage them to come to you for future support.
Hold Them Accountable
A large step through the process of addiction recovery is holding yourself accountable for your actions and choices. Bringing that outlook into the home environment can help your child learn to maintain accountability and avoid falling back into old habits. Gently remind them of their goals and discuss them often to keep them fresh in the child’s mind as well as update your awareness of what they are currently working toward.
Creating a safe environment for your child is another way to support them through this process. While your child is working through addiction recovery, they must be in a safe environment away from substances that may tempt them into a relapse. Keeping medications locked away and keeping alcohol out of sight can create an environment for your child free of temptations.
During this time, your child may look up to you and your actions. It is important to engage in behaviors you would want your child to engage in as well. While they are going through recovery, and even after, avoid having a drink or smoking around them if that is something you previously engaged in. Creating a safe space for your child to come home to that is always free of temptations can create structure and stability in their sober lifestyle.
Pay Attention to Signs of Relapse
There are many behaviors that may begin to occur when an individual is falling away from their recovery plan and reaching a potential relapse. Keeping an eye on your child’s behaviors and noticing abrupt changes can help you predict a possible relapse before it occurs. The following behaviors are important to look out for.
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Isolation
- Excessive spending
- Inconsistent sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in appearance
If you notice your child engaging in one or more of these behaviors, reach out to them with your concern. You may talk to mental health professionals you are currently working with to address your concern, but it also can be good to discuss the changes with your child. To avoid conflict when bringing up these behaviors, direct the conversation away from a state of blame. Ask if they need any help or ask what you can best do to support them. A respectful discussion of your concerns may allow your child to realize their behaviors and adjust them before reaching a relapse.
Find Resources
Financially, addiction recovery can take a toll on the family. Checking with your current insurance provider or looking into options available in your local area for treatment and recovery plans can alleviate financial stress. Discussing with your child what form of recovery works best for them and if the current steps they are engaging in are beneficial can lead your child in the right direction for their success. If you need assistance with affording or locating an addiction recovery provider in Costa Mesa, California, reach out to Dream Recovery. There are a large variety of recovery options. Helping your child find the best one can further their progress and set them on the path to a healthy lifestyle.
Watching your child go through addiction recovery often evokes a wide range of emotions. You want to support them in every way possible; however, finding a way to do that without causing further damage can be challenging. Taking care of yourself and your own emotions is vital to provide strong support for your child. When you feel you can provide a stable level of support, let your child know. Inform them that you will be there to work through this process with them. Avoid indulging feelings of anger or blame toward them. Providing a safe environment where your child can be understood is one of the most beneficial ways to support them. Gently hold them accountable and remind them of their goals in an inviting way. To learn more about how to best support your child and create a safe and stable environment throughout addiction recovery, contact Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.