Being a Parent Of A Child Going Through Recovery

Being a parent of an adult child going through addiction recovery is never easy to handle. Your child has influenced you in more ways than you can imagine.

However, when the behaviors, values, habits, and communication start to change, you begin to wonder about the overall well-being of your child. As a parent, your job is to protect your child as much as possible and taking care of them is a primary goal.

When your child struggles with substance use disorders, however, protecting and caring for them can fluctuate into something more dangerous later in their lives.

The Dangers of Substance Use & Children

In a home where your child uses addictive drugs, you as a parent may start noticing drastic changes. These changes can include:

• Poor performance in school

• Lower self-esteem

• Physical, verbal, or sexual abuse

• Behavioral issues

• Emotional ups and downs

• Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression

In addition, when a child experiments with substances, the chances of them being prone to risks of addictions and substance use disorders later in life can grow. 

It is a scary thought for many parents, and you may want to do everything you can to make sure that your child has a healthy life. If your child struggles with substance use, odds are you want to help them avoid it and get rid of it altogether.

One of the first steps of being a parent of a child who struggles with substances as an adult is to gain insight into their experiences and to not give up on them. No matter what the situation, remember that they need your support now more than ever.

Addiction recovery is absolutely a possibility.

What Can a Parent Do to Help With the Outcome of Addiction Recovery?

At some point or another, there is a time in parenting that begs the question; are you helping your child or not? Every parent wonders if they are doing the right thing and seek out others who have parented before to get insights on how to handle children's pain. Specifically, when a child is dealing with substance use, the challenges can vary from situation to situation. 

There are specific ways to help your child with the outcome of addiction recovery and how to encourage them to partake in the recovery journey. First, as previously mentioned, if you do not give up on your child's assistance and potential for a healthy lifestyle, you can further progress in the process.

Next, if you educate yourself on the different types of substance use disorders, you can better understand how and why your child struggles with certain substances. 

Developing Strong Relationships With Your Child

After you dive into the resources given to you in addiction recovery facilities, you can learn how to develop and strengthen the relationship with your child. This may mean you need to set your boundaries, put yourself first, and attend different therapy sessions to strengthen your relationship further. When you have assertive communication, you can learn to respect and react accordingly. 

Also, when you improve your communication with your child, you can have a sense of acceptance and understanding while focusing on the good and being a part of the recovery process in a constructive way. Helping a child overcome substance use disorders will not go away if you ignore them. 

Speaking With the Professional About Encouragement

It is imperative to reach out to a professional to get advice and direction when an intervention needs to occur or if you are unsure how to encourage your child to get help. Healthcare professionals know how addictive substances affect the mind and the proper ways to have a conversation of choice and action. When your child is going through addiction recovery treatment, learning how to avoid stressors that may trigger a relapse is an excellent way to start to help your child get the help that they need and deserve. 

Moreover, when you join therapy sessions that your child partakes in through addiction recovery treatment, you actively engage in their journey and show how much you care about your child without directly speaking about it. A professional healthcare advisor will address different areas of your life that may need adjustment. As a parent, learning how to voice your concerns by actions can express desires to improve your life and your child's life. Understanding that the addiction recovery process is a challenge for your child and you can give you deeper insights into how the process progresses. 

Commitment To Recovery Can Take A Lot

When you choose to speak with a professional from The Forge Recovery Center about encouraging your child to continue the path of recovery, you are taking action-based steps to help create a successful treatment plan for the environment your child is in.

An addiction center can take your child through the entire recovery process, from detox to sober living and beyond. Contact The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

May 9, 2022