It used to be so much easier when your child was younger. When they fell, just a kiss and a bandage on their scraped knee was all they needed to recover. As the parent of a child struggling with addiction, you know that the falls can be much harder and no amount of cuddling can erase the consequences of your child's mistakes. Yet, your child will need your help during the first year after leaving their treatment program, and you can use these three strategies to show support while maintaining your boundaries.
Provide Perspective
When your child leaves treatment, it is important to help them avoid falling into the blame trap. For example, an addict may blame their struggles with drugs and alcohol on external influences such as stress from school or family conflicts. You can help stop this type of thinking by reminding your child that drinking and doing drugs is a choice. Be honest, and let them know how their choices affect the rest of the family, and attend counseling sessions together where you can further deepen your child's perspective regarding their addiction.
Be Firm About Financial Support
When your adult child lives at home, you may feel obligated to provide the necessities they need for life. While it is perfectly fine to make sure they have food, it may not be wise to hand them cash that could be used for drugs. Before your child moves home, decide how much financial support you can afford to provide and how it will be distributed. If you decide to help with court costs or medical bills, make your payments directly so that you know they went to the proper place.
Help Find Support Services
The first year of recovery is fraught with challenges, and your child will need a wide network of support. For example, your child may have legal obligations to fulfill if their addiction has led to trouble with the law such as attending DUI counseling at a place like the Counseling Center of Illinois. They may also need additional after care treatment to prevent relapse. Help your child to secure these services shortly after they return home so that they can stay strong on the road to recovery.
Parenting a child with an addiction is never easy, and you want your child to have the best chances for long-term recovery. While it is important to set boundaries, your child will still need to be able to lean on you for support. By deciding now how much you can help and setting them up with the services they need, you can help them transition into a healthier and happier lifestyle.
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