It’s not uncommon for parents to find themselves overwhelmed and even feel guilty about their child’s addiction. Parents often try to provide for everything their child needs, and even in the ideal situation, you may still have a child that ends up facing addiction. When it comes to guilt and your child’s addiction, remember that the best way forward is with professional help like that offered at Fort Behavioral Health.
Guilt and Your Child’s Addiction – What’s Happening?
Parents take on addiction guilt for many reasons. Many parents are told that what they do and their decisions impact a child’s health and well-being. That’s true to a point, but it’s not always the case when it comes to addiction. Still, you may feel guilt, and your child’s addiction may feel very personal. Even if you feel this guilt, it cannot stop you from providing the help your child needs to recover from addiction.
What Can You Do to Cope with Addiction Guilt?
Recognize your guilt and your child’s alcohol addiction treatment needs. Then, consider a few of these strategies to help you work through what’s happening.
It’s Not Just One Thing
People do not develop an addiction as a result of one decision or experience. Many people enter this path with a strong family level of support or good relationships with their parents. Peer pressure, curiosity, and boredom are just a few of the reasons why kids start on the path towards addiction.
Don’t Enable
Guilt can cause you to want to help your child, but there’s a fine line between helping and supporting a habit. Enabling your child may include providing for their needs while they are actively using. It is important to get them into a treatment program and, while doing so, work to limit access to drugs or alcohol. Make it harder for them to use and ensure they know you need them to stop using.
Learn About the Condition
When you have guilt and your child’s addiction is something you are dealing with every day, it’s hard not to become afraid. Education is power, though. Take the time to go to family addiction therapy meetings. Talk to the people that your child is working with to understand their goals and plans to help your child. It’s also important to educate yourself on how to support your loved one through recovery. When you focus on helping in the right manner with accurate information, some of that addiction guilt can pass.
Provide Support and a Positive Message
It’s also important to communicate your support to your loved one. That means working closely with your child to understand their needs and provide the strong support they need. Forgive yourself. Forgive your child. Work on this together.
Make the Decision to Get Professional Help
At Fort Behavioral Health, our team of professionals can provide you with the care you need to get on the right path so you can help your child. Reach out to our professionals to learn more about the therapy we offer. We’re here for your child, and we provide the family therapy programs that you need as well.
Learn more about each of the programs we offer, including:
- Drug and alcohol detox services
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- EMDR therapy
Get the Care Your Family Needs at Fort Behavioral Health
If you are struggling with guilt and your child’s addiction, it’s important to seek help for both you and your son or daughter. No matter what you’re facing, addiction guilt can be alleviated by simply finding the right treatment and support. Our team at Fort Behavioral Health can provide the care and attention you need today. Contact us at 844.332.1807.
