Five Parental Traits You Need To Support Your Addicted Child

*Collaborative Post

Addiction is something that’s becoming more and more of a problem across the UK and it’s affecting a wealth of different people. That means all genders, all ethnicities and all ages although statistics do show that addiction in young men, mostly between the ages of 16 to 24, show a higher dependency at 11.8%.

Younger people are becoming more and more affected as the likes of alcohol and drugs such as cocaine become more prominent within society. Today, studies show that over 10% of school children take drugs, while more and more are now having to seek out the likes of cocaine rehab as a result.

As a parent of a child struggling with addiction, help and support is undoubtedly what you need to provide. That requires certain traits to help them get through the incredibly difficult period and their life back on track.

So, if you have a child who is suffering, it’s important to harness the following as best you can.

Unconditional Love and Acceptance

The most critical trait you can possibly show is unconditional love and acceptance of the situation. Addiction is an incredibly complex beast and for those struggling with it they’ll often have feelings of shame, guilt and worthlessness which isn’t going to be aided by a parent making life difficult for them. Therefore, showing love and unwavering support can be reassuring to them.

It creates a safer and more non-judgemental environment where they will feel comfortable to communicate honestly and openly, as well as reach out for support when they need it most.

Empathy and Compassion

Showing empathy and compassion are powerful tools that will allow you to connect much more effectively with a child going through addiction problems. It’ll add to that non-judgemental environment and by acknowledging and listening to the pain they are going through it’ll validate their experiences and ensure that your child feels like they are getting the emotional support they need.

Boundaries and Accountability

While it is important to establish the love and support is there for your child, it is also important to make sure there are clear expectations and boundaries. This will help create a sense of stability and structure in their life and provide them with a platform to get the help they need.

Communicate your own expectations openly and ensure that there are clear boundaries and consequences for particular actions.

It’s important to handle these with care, as addiction is a chronic disease and you do still need to show empathy.

Patience and Resilience

Entering recovery is a challenging path and even in that stage there will be setbacks, potential relapses and periods of difficulty. Therefore you need to be patient with your child and be prepared for those ups and downs.

It’s important to encourage and showcase resilience in the face of such setbacks, as well as celebrate the small victories and milestones, such as a week sober, two weeks and beyond. This can encourage perseverance to the task at hand and help your child overcome the obstacles they will face.

Self-Care and Support

Finally, you need to look after your own mental health. Supporting a child who is going through addiction can be incredibly tough on yourself mentally, emotionally and physically. It can be draining so it’s important to make sure you take the time to refresh and relax as well as take part in the hobbies and pastimes you enjoy. In addition, you might consider Ready Clean Detox programs, a series of products or methods designed to cleanse the body of toxins. Just as your child is working towards detoxification from the substances affecting their life, it can be beneficial for you to partake in a natural detoxification process to maintain your physical health.

It may be that you need to reach out for help, either professionally or from friends, family or support groups to help cope with the stress. By managing and maintaining your own mental health, this will put you in a much better position to support your child on their own journey.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.