Help For Parents of Addicts – Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol or Drug Addiction
Recognizing the signs of alcohol and drug addiction can be challenging. However, certain signs are prevalent among most people struggling with drug or alcohol use. Being able to identify when your child might be struggling with alcohol or drug abuse is important because it can mean the difference between getting help early on or waiting until things get worse.
If you suspect your child is using drugs or alcohol, look for certain changes in their behavior. This might include:
- Withdrawing from friends and family members
- Changing the group of friends they hang out with
- Changes in appetite or sleeping behaviors
Just generally look for anything that seems out of the ordinary for them.
It’s also important to consider emotional changes such as depression, symptoms, emotional outbursts, excessive anger, sadness, or anything else that seems unusual for your child.
It can be challenging to differentiate between signs of addiction and “teenagers just being teenagers,” but it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek help if you have any concerns. If you need help for parents of addicts, keep reading to learn more.
Educate Yourself About Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Understanding drug and alcohol abuse is crucial for supporting your child. Addiction is complicated for many people to understand, and it can be even more puzzling to figure out why your child won’t just ‘stop using drugs.’ Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and making sure you’re educated on how addiction really works will give you a better understanding of what your child is going through.
Recognizing that addiction is not a choice but a serious health issue can change how you approach helping your child’s addiction. You can find many resources online or in your local community to help educate yourself on your child’s substance use and how addiction affects individuals and their family members.
Mental Illness Education
In addition to understanding how a substance use disorder works, it is important to educate yourself about mental health issues, as they frequently coincide with substance use disorders. If your child is suffering from mental illness along with a substance use problem, it’s essential that they are treated for both. For many young people, substance use is a way to medicate mental health issues they’re facing but aren’t even aware of. Mental health treatment is just as important as addiction treatment.ย
Set Guidelines and Stick With Them
When addressing addiction, setting clear guidelines for your child is essential. While they may not appreciate the guidelines at the time you’re implementing them, boundaries and structure provide stability and security for a person struggling with addiction. For example, let them know what you expect of them around the home and regarding their schoolwork. It’s also essential to make it clear that drugs and alcohol are not permitted in the home.
Implement Consistent Consequences
It’s essential to make the consequences clear for failing to abide by your expectations. Have a set consequence for each thing they do that goes against your wishes. For example, if they use drugs in the house, they are grounded for a certain period of time and they have to continue counseling for x number of months. Or if they come home from school late, they can no longer get themselves home from school, and instead, you will pick them up every day. Whatever the consequences are, it’s just important that they remain consistent.
Engage in Open Communication
No matter what your child is struggling with and how many consequences you have to implement, it’s absolutely essential that you continue to communicate with them. Make sure you’re not being judgmental, and continue to remind them that they can talk to you about anything. If they don’t feel like they have someone to talk to about their struggles or they are worried about getting in trouble for sharing, it’s much less likely that they will turn to you when they’re ready to ask for help.
Your child may not like everything you do and all the things you say, but it’s still important to be consistent and provide them with appropriate support and consequences.ย
Encourage and Support the Recovery Process
If you believe your child is struggling with addiction, it’s essential to provide them with the opportunity to get help. Reach out to someone specializing in addiction in adolescents and young adults. They can help you figure out the best path to long-term recovery from substance abuse, which might include 12-step meetings, Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Self Management and Recovery Training meetings (SMART recovery), family therapy, inpatient rehab, or intensive outpatient rehab.
Attend therapy sessions and recovery meetings with them to show your support and understanding if they want you to go with them. If they want to go to meetings alone, that’s okay too – respect their privacy, just make sure they’re going.
Be willing to talk to them about their recovery and their struggles. Make sure your child knows they won’t be in trouble if they relapse or if they have a hard time staying sober – family support is essential for an addicted loved one.
Take Care of Yourself
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your child when they are struggling with substance abuse. If you aren’t in a healthy place, you won’t be able to get them the help they need. Consider the following:
Go to Therapy
Therapy for the parent is incredibly important. This gives them a safe place to discuss their worries and frustrations about their child with someone objective. Parents need an outlet to deal with these issues, and that outlet shouldn’t be their child.
Support Groups
A support group, such as Nar-Anon and Al-Anon meetings, is incredibly helpful for parents (or any family member) who have a child struggling with addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Parents can share what they and their children are going through and seek support from other members. These support groups for family members and loved ones are invaluable for learning from others’ experiences and building a support network.
Self-Care
Taking care of yourself and engaging in self-care is absolutely essential. You won’t be able to help anyone, including your child if you aren’t healthy yourself. This means different things for different people. For example, it might mean getting massages, meditating, spending time with friends, exercising, or anything that makes you feel more relaxed and able to care for your child in their time of need. Always ensure you’re getting enough sleep and have a great support system to help you with what your family is going through.
By prioritizing your well-being, you become better equipped to support your child throughout their addiction recovery journey.
Help for Parents of Addicts – Reach out Today for More Information
If your child is struggling with drug or alcohol use, this may be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to deal with. It’s totally understandable to have complex emotions about a loved one’s addiction, as it’s an incredibly hard thing to understand and accept.ย Fortunately, you never have to handle it alone. If you are ready to explore treatment options for your child, Reprieve Recovery is here for you.
Reach out today for more information on our treatment programs and how we can help families heal. We can provide additional resources designed specifically for parents of addicts. You are not alone in this journey. If you’re looking for help for parents of addicts, call (561) 786-2923 or complete ourย confidential contact form. We’ll help you and your child determine the best level of care – for example, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, or standard outpatient rehab. Reach out today.
