A supportive family can make a world of difference in addiction recovery. As a parent, you want the best for your children. Your support is vital now that your teen is going through a challenging time in their life. You might be wondering what you should do or say, how you can help, or how to be there for them. If any of these questions are on your mind, you are on the correct path. The support of parents in addiction recovery can significantly improve the results of the process.
A Parent’s Role in Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a very complex condition that can severely affect a family’s dynamic. It is natural to experience a variety of painful emotions when you find out that a family member is battling a substance use disorder. It is essential to recognize that no blame is to be placed if you find yourself in this type of situation. If your teen has come to you to ask for help with their addiction, it likely took a great deal of courage. Your role in your teen’s recovery is prominent and essential.
What Is Helpful in Teen Addiction Recovery
If you are not experienced in dealing with addiction, it can be challenging to figure out your role and what is helpful. Some things that can be helpful to your teen in addiction recovery include the following:
Holding Your Teen Accountable
It can be frustrating to watch your teen make poor decisions. It can also be easy to feel pity for their situation and be more lenient. While your feelings may be valid, it is crucial to stay consistent in holding your teen accountable for things they should be doing and offering rewards for positive choices.
Attending Family Therapy
Attending family therapy can help you and your teen talk about and work through any misplaced emotions. It can also be an opportunity for you to understand them and their addiction better. The more information you have about what your teen is going through, the better you will be able to offer support.
Tending to Basic Needs
Although it might seem mundane, a great way to help your teen in addiction recovery is to tend to their basic needs and implement a structure that makes their recovery more sustainable. Tending to basic needs means you can do some of the following things:
- Ensure that they are getting a good night’s sleep every night
- Providing a healthy and balanced diet
- Ensuring that they are moving their bodies and getting adequate exercise every day.
What Is Not Helpful in Teen Addiction Recovery
In addiction recovery, it is crucial that the things that you are doing to help are actually helpful. It is understandable that you want the best for your children and you want to heal their pain, but it is essential that the way you help is actually aiding in recovery. Here are some typical roles that parents can play that are not helpful.
The Enabler
An enabler is a person who encourages negative behavior. Enablers do not hold the person with the addiction accountable. Instead, they further encourage self-destructive behavior. They might also try to fix situations that would otherwise result in logical consequences. This behavior might be a result of shame or embarrassment. However, it stunts an addict’s recovery potential.
The Hero
A hero is a person who is only dedicated to keeping appearances. They may try to overcompensate for the shame around the person battling addiction by being exceptional. This behavior is not helpful in addiction recovery as it might add to the addicted individual’s stress.
The Attacker
An attacker is someone who constantly blames everyone for what is happening. Their aggressiveness can cause tension in a household when it should be a positive environment for recovery.
How to Connect With Your Teen in Recovery
Instead of wondering what you could have done better and dwelling on your shortcomings as a parent, you should be focused on the present. Shift your focus to what you can do now to help your teen that is in need of help with their recovery. Here are some ways to connect with your teen during addiction recovery.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Instead of punishment, try rewarding positive behaviors. It is almost impossible to control a teen’s emotions. Often trying to punish bad behavior only backfires. It can make your teen less likely to open up to you in the future and can ultimately damage the relationship. Positive reinforcement can be a more effective method.
Show Interest In Their Recovery
Something that can significantly impact the relationship between you and your teen is showing interest in what they are working on. You can ask them about their day, about how their therapy is going, and how they feel about their progress. Trying to understand what your teen is going through can be crucial to their recovery.
Be Loving in Your Interactions
This point might seem like common sense, but it is essential that you speak and interact positively and lovingly with your teen. When battling addiction, it is vital for them to know that you care and that you are supportive of them. This can be shown through your actions and your words.
Setting Ground Rules
Even though you may be trying to find a balance between tough love and strictness, boundaries are still important. Clarify the rules that you have set for your home and ensure that they understand the consequences of breaking these rules. Some things might be recommendations from their therapist, such as drug testing and monitoring. However, clear boundaries will be valuable in your teen’s addiction recovery.
Let Our Los Angeles, CA Professionals Help
At The Encino Detox Center, we understand how difficult it can be to have a teen in addiction recovery. For this reason, we offer parent education and will remain by your side every step of the process to ensure you can be the best support for your teen. Contact our team now to verify your insurance and get started.
