What Can I Do if My Child Is Struggling With Addiction?

When you recognize that your child is struggling with substance use, you may feel absolutely horrible. As a parent, you feel like you constantly need to ensure your child's safety. Therefore, learning about their struggles with addiction can certainly throw your a loop and even question your parenting.

Is It Okay to Not Know What to Do?

Yes, it is 100% normal not to know how to help your child. Just because you are their mother does not mean that you should be perfectly equipped to know how to help with substance use disorder (SUD).

Although it can be incredibly frustrating not to have all the answers in this scenario, try to give yourself some much-needed grace and compassion. The odds are that you are very stressed out and disheartened about the situation at hand. Additionally, you might be worried sick about your child. You deserve some self-compassion during this time. Try to remind yourself that it is okay not to have all the answers, as long as you can find people who do have the answers.

Even talking with your child may seem awkward or challenging now. Dealing with something as serious as SUD may feel incredibly foreign to you, as you may never have felt this way before. Once again, this is incredibly normal and to be expected. Despite this uncomfortable phase, keep in mind that this is only temporary and will get easier with time.

Are There Others in My Shoes?

Once again, yes, there have been and currently are many other parents struggling with these same issues. It is very common for mothers to worry that they have failed as a mother if their child struggles with addiction. This is simply not true. You have done your personal best as a mother and that is more than enough.

The truth of the matter is that addiction involves many different factors, including one's genetics, environment, and triggering life events, to name a few. This means that your child's substance use is not your fault. Try not to take your child's SUD personally, even though it may be difficult not to do so. Instead, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone and that there are many other mothers in your shoes.

Another frightening element of this experience may be the change that your child's SUD entails. You may feel extremely scared when thinking about how drastically both of your lives are going to change when helping your child. You may even feel guilty for feeling this fear, as you may convince yourself that it is selfish to fear change when your child is suffering.

Please know that all of this is very normal and that you are not being selfish. First and foremost, you are a human being who experiences a wide variety of emotions, and that is OK. Experiencing this fear of change is normal, and it is good to acknowledge it. Just because you are scared does not mean you are a bad mother.

What Can I Do for My Child?

Just because you cannot "fix" your child's SUD does not mean you cannot provide them with the tools they need to find healing and sobriety. In fact, you have many options to choose from when seeking assistance for your child's substance use. Some of these options include:

• Interventions
• Family therapy
• Recovery coaching
• Group therapy
• Individual counseling
• Case management

Now more than ever, your child needs unabashed love and support. As their mother, you can love and support them by finding help that is fit for their personal needs.

You can also give them comfort by constantly reassuring them that everything will be okay. Let them know how much you love them and that you believe in them. Communicate to them that you are here for them no matter what and that you want to help in any way you can.

Know that this is a very confusing time for your child as well. They may be scared, depressed, or lost. Offer them compassion even if you do not understand what they are going through. Do not pretend to know what they are experiencing, as this may offend them or annoy them. Instead, acknowledge that you do not understand their experiences but that you want to in order to help them. This shows that you are being honest about your intentions and that you only want the best for them.

At Next Level Wellness & Behavioral Health, we understand the deep level of fear and frustration you must feel as a mother with a child suffering from SUD. We can help you to feel comforted by the fact that we can give your child what they need to heal and find sobriety. By using a wide variety of modalities, we can craft a plan for you and your child that works for both of you, leaving everyone with their needs met.

As a mother with a child who is struggling with addiction, you may feel at a loss for solutions. Despite these distressing feelings, know that it is okay to not know what to do. This does not make you a bad parent. Keep in mind that there are many other mothers in your shoes. During this time, you must show your child honesty, compassion, and love more than ever. The best thing you can do to ensure your child's safety and well-being is to seek professional help. Our team of trained recovery professionals at Next Level Wellness & Behavioral Health has the knowledge and care your child needs to find healing. Even though this is a very frightening time for you and your child, take comfort in the fact that we can offer you a light a the end of the tunnel. Contact us today at consult@nextlevelra.com.