Coping Strategies For Mothers of Drug Addicted Children

Dealing with a drug addicted child can be a very stressful thing and can cause a lot of anxiety, however here are some coping strategies.

1. Encourage your child to take responsibility by reminding them that their choices got them where they are today. Although they may have been influenced by outside factors, ultimately, the decisions that they made in each moment led them down the path that they are currently on.

During an intervention, it can be beneficial to remind your child that their actions impact everyone in your family. Not only that but they also impact the people that your child comes into contact with on a daily basis including their friends and coworkers. Interventions are as much about helping the family to begin the healing process as they are about helping the addict agree to accept help.

2. Be cautious when giving your child money. Avoid providing more financial support than you can comfortably afford to. Remember, people with addictions have a hard time spending money responsibly. The money that you give them may just be used to further their addiction. There are, however, some situations where it is hard not to help as a parent. For instance, if your child doesn't have enough money to buy groceries, you definitely don't want them to go without food. In a situation like this, you can buy them a bag or two of groceries rather than giving them money.

3. Make sure your child knows that you are available to help them find support. Young adults that need help may still refuse your help. Remember, it is not your fault. They have to be willing to want to get better before any type of treatment program will work. The best that you can do is make sure that they know that you are there for them when they need you.

4. Treat your child with love and compassion. At the same time, avoid enabling their addiction. Every addict has to take responsibility for their actions and to understand how they are affecting the rest of your family before they can begin the recovery process.

5. As tempting as it may be to swoop in and save your child from their addiction, it is usually impossible. Addicts need to be willing to accept responsibility for their actions before they can fully recover.

6. Don't allow a child with an addiction to destroy the rest of your family. As much as you want to help your child, you may need to distance yourself from them if their behavior is having a negative impact on other members of your family. It takes courage to protect yourself and your loved ones. In some cases, however, it may be necessary. You may even find that distancing yourself from an addicted child makes them realize that they really do need help.

7. Be kind to yourself. As a parent, it is only natural to want to care for your child and to make sure that they are always safe, happy, and healthy. Adult children, however, are responsible for their own choices and for their own happiness. There is only so much that you can do as a parent. Make sure that you are not sacrificing your own health and well-being. Do everything that you can within reason to help your child. Just make sure that you don't hurt yourself in the process.