Expert Advice

Your drug addiction is bound to leave a permanent mark on your life. Of course, you know that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. Your addiction will suck up the life of everyone in your family including your kids.

Like a spouse, the children too are introduced to a world where a parent is battling an addiction that makes him or her emotionally unavailable when they need them. The relationship takes quite a hit and results in profound psychological abnormalities in the child forever.

We Take A Look The Symptoms That The Child Might Show Growing Up With A Parent Who Is An Addict:

Responsibilities

A lot of kids see their father as a hero. However, when the child is forced to witness the father passed out or go through irrational mood swings, things change considerably. A parent, who needs to be responsible for the kids, might not be able to cater to their needs. This might force the kids to be responsible for themselves as well as the parent.

Getting the younger siblings ready for school, fixing them lunch along with helping the addict parent out become daily tasks.

Stunted Emotional Growth

What the children witness in their homes while growing up is also reflected in their personalities as adults. Since they are afraid of the uncertain, they tend to take things in control which might leave very little room for their healthy emotional development. Another classic example can be their relationships being totally co-dependent. They do not know the concept of unacceptable behavior and naturally forget to draw the line.

Critical Of Themselves

Domestic violence is common in homes of addicts. Once the communication between a parent and a child is broken down and the roles are blurred, chances of physical and sexual abuse increase manifold. These kids grow up with low self-esteem and are constantly critical of themselves.

Research suggests that such kids are more likely to involve with substance addicts again which might lead to more physical and sexual abuse. This leaves a permanent mark on the personalities of these kids who tend to lose trust in further relationships.

Fear

Once things start getting bad at home, it is only a matter of time when the world outside gets a hint of that. Fearing this, the kids naturally keep away from bringing friends home or making friends entirely. They are afraid of their image to the outside world.

Another worry that always drives them is to be taken away from their homes. They fear someone might find out and call Child Services and they will be taken away from their parents.

Higher Risk Of Anxiety Or Depression

Kids with an addict parent that have been subjected to physical or sexual abuse may witness sleep disorders, flashbacks, anxiety or even depression. Eating disorders and suicide attempts were found to be much more in common in the children of addicts than the rest of the population.

Even something as witnessing abuse can be harmful to their brain which can permanently cause behavioral problems. Since the ability to parent in an addict is considerably affected, the children remain to be emotionally vulnerable even after they grow up.

More Likely To Develop Addiction

Remember things can always get worse. Carrying the baggage of growing in an emotional void, the children of addicts are unlikely to form strong relationships and might turn to a bottle instead of a friend in the time of need.

Even after keeping the genetic factor aside, these kids are at a higher risk of developing an addiction than the rest of the world.

It is evident from these points that your drug addiction will have severe life spanning effects on your children. Their personalities are damaged due to constant behavioral problems which eventually also take a toll on their relationships. If they take up alcohol or drug addiction too, the third generation of your family might be looking at the same risks that your child had to go through. It is crucial for your kids along with your spouse to be a part of your rehabilitation program to ensure they overcome the effects of your addiction effectively.

Drug rehab is a difficult process, and rehab is just one small part of it. The real battle starts once you’re out in the real world all on your own, back to your routine. The early days after rehab are indeed the most difficult and can take a toll on you emotionally.

Since you are back into your world that got you in rehab in the first place, significant changes need to be made to your lifestyle to ensure you stay on the right track. A couple of other things that seem crucial otherwise might take a back seat while the recovery takes most of your attention.

Here are several tips that work wonders for an early recovery:

Recovery Is Priority

You might be a workaholic having grand aspirations or a full-time parent that needs to tend to their kids. Once you are on the road to recovery, it shall become your priority. Make sure you do not stress yourself at work or work long hours to catch up on the lost time.

Leave enough mental and emotional strength for yourself to fight your urges in the early stages of recovery.

It Is Quite A Bit Of Work

The early days of recovery are never easy and might be emotionally challenging for a few. You would be mistaken if you think just stopping drinking will get you back on the track. It requires more work than what it looks like on the surface. You need to have a proper routine with ample exercise and efficient sleep cycles to take on addiction. Your diet and nutrients will play an equally significant part in the process.

Meetings Are Important

There is no easy way to stress this, but it is essential for your healing process that you remain in touch with people who are battling the same problems as you. This will help keep you grounded. Listening to other people and their ways of coping with their urges will motivate you to stick to your path.

Additionally, try building a network. Get a sponsor. If not then at least make friends with a few people who can be there if you need someone to discuss your predicament. Going 15 minutes early to the meeting and staying a few minutes after it ends is also helpful since they are as important as the meeting.

Take Care Of Unresolved Issues

Addiction is usually a result of unresolved relationship issues, work stress or behavioral problems. It is essential for your recovery that you tend to these issues that got you into Rehab in the first place. Try talking to your boss about your process and see if they can help you with it.

Try going the extra mile for resolving issues with important people in your life and tend to those loose ends. Seek closure from past relationships and put your mind to rest. You might also need to see a therapist to seek professional help for the same.

Emotional Support Is Essential

For your early recovery, your family and loved ones need to come together to your aid to help you achieve your goal. Your family plays a large role in your healing process and act as your support system when you are down with feelings of guilt, shame, and carelessness.

Realize It Is A Lifelong Process

Though recovery, especially in the early days, can seem to be a battle hard to be won, it does tend to get more comfortable with time. Alcohol or drug addiction rewires your brain in such a way that it immediately starts seeking these substances to cope with strong emotions or stress.

Recovery is all about rebuilding your pathways and have long-term goals in your mind. Keep learning new ways to focus on your journey that will lead you to the liberating life after addiction.

Experts suggest that having a well-crafted plan for your post-rehab period is crucial. Acknowledging these points and including them into your master plan will significantly help in your early recovery. Since the initial days have known to be harder for most, taking the steps in the right direction could help in keeping your long-term goals in check.

Are you going down on the road to recover from your drug addiction?

Well, before you plan on going to that recovery phase, did you know that addiction recovery is a long process and comes as different for everyone?

According to a 2014 research published in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, recovery is defined as a process through which people improve their health, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their potential.

Though there are similarities between the addicted individuals, but each recovery case is still influenced by various social, biological, and physical factors.

As there is no one remedy that works for everyone, here are the initial stages that you will go through during the recovery.

Pre-Contemplation Stage

This stage is characterized by the denial of drug or alcohol addiction habit.

During the pre-contemplation stage, the addicted person is not ready to admit that they have an addiction issue. They avoid the conversations about addictions and also step back from the people who bring them up. The addicts start to blame their substance abuse on various factors like work life, family issues, and even genetic predispositions.

But the most important aspect of this stage is an acknowledgment, which is the transformation from “I’m a heavy drinker” to “I have a drinking problem.”

And this is from where the journey of recovery begins.

Contemplating Getting Sober

Well, awareness and acknowledgment alone are not enough. This is the stage where the conflicting emotions and uncertain thoughts begin to play a huge role.

During the stage, the addicted one has to begin considering the actual possibilities of recovery. There are chances when the addicts remain in this stage for months, as they evaluate the various course of action.

They are planning to make the change, but the fear of treatment; expenses, detox pain, and staying away from drugs stop them from doing so.

To get through this, one thing that you can do is joining a rehabilitation center or seek help from a professional.

Preparation- Exploring The Recovery Options

Moving past the contemplation stage, the addict gets prepared to overcome his addiction problem. This is the stage when recovery of an addict actually begins.

During the preparation, addicts begin to educate themselves about the recovery process and get to know what it actually means to live a sober life. They are quite motivated and start looking for the support that they require for recovery.

Once they commit to following a long-term treatment plan, they are likely to move on it smoothly. But still, it is important to realize that moderating your use does not mean that you are completely in the recovery phase.

Action-Early Recovery Stage

During this stage, either the methods you are trying completely fail or start to fail. At this time, you quit focusing on moderation and seek help to get your life together.

You will learn more about the problem and will work through the issues that may be blocking your growth towards a better life. But make sure you don’t even slip a bit during this stage as you might not have acquired the complete knowledge for a full recovery.

Remember that this stage may last from three to six months.

Relapse and Maintenance Stage

This is the most overlooked and important stage as you are required to upkeep the recovery routine, even after completing the treatment.

While relapse is inevitable, you still have to engage in the habits that will help you replace the addiction habits. You can adapt new dietary habits, make a fitness plan, or surround yourself with the people who remind you of your goal.

Those who fail to take this step, they start exhibiting the negative traits of addiction all over again. This stage will take effort, dedication, and strength, but the results you will get are immensely rewarding.

If you or your loved one is struggling with the addiction, it’s time that you help them recover faster. At Prominence Treatment, we give you the tools to rise above the addiction and work through the recovery issues so that you can start your new life. Contact Us today to learn more about our treatment programs and how they can transform your life for better.