Tips for Helping an Addicted Individual Most often than not, when parents learn that one of their children became addicted to substance use, they reprimand them. There are many things that you can do to help your addicted child other than scolding them. Here are a few tips on how you can help your addicted child. Your journey towards drug addiction starts as early as the moment you voluntarily take your first dose of prohibited drugs. Addicted individuals usually start at a lower dose as most of them take drugs merely because they just want to try and enjoy the uniquely pleasant sensation it provides. However, over time, this feeling of enjoyment usually turns into a compulsive intake and the need for additional and larger dosage. When this happens, the individual’s ability to choose whether or not to take drugs is being compromised.
Most often than not, when parents learn that one of their children became addicted to substance use, they reprimand them. This reaction, though considered normal, is not helpful at all. It will only leave the addicted individual feeling alone, pressured and depressed which in turn pushes them to crave for another dose.
There are many things that you can do to help your addicted child other than scolding them. Here are a few tips on how you can help your addicted child. Gather more information about substance abuse and addiction If you suspect that your child is getting addicted to drugs, the first thing that you should do is to gather information about substance abuse and addiction, just like what you are doing right now. Dealing with an addict is never easy, plus, your complex emotions and thoughts can make the situation more complicated. With enough knowledge, it would be a bit easier for you to deal with the problem and to get rid of the never-ending and stressful blame game. Getting counselling services in Ottawa can also help you and your family let go of your anger towards your addicted child and focus more on healing instead. If you are short on funds, there are other alternatives available for you. You can borrow or buy books about addiction or perhaps search for more resources online. Talk to your child It is normal for an addict to deny and hide their addiction problem so you must be very patient and calm when talking to your child. Build trust first before talking about your child’s addiction problem. Ask them calmly about their problems, the reasons why they started taking drugs, and the triggers that lead them to addiction. Sometimes getting an advice from an addiction counsellor in Ottawa is not enough to solve addiction problems. You have to first fix the root cause of their addiction for them to successfully overcome it and get rid of possible relapse.
As much as possible, avoid scolding and blaming your child. Instead of talking about their weaknesses and shortcomings, focus more on your child’s strengths and the good things they have done so far and the good things they can still do in the future. Let them know that you understand and love them. Show your child that you are willing to support and walk with them through the healing process no matter how challenging and tedious it may get. Seek professional help If you think that your child’s addiction is getting out of control, it is better to seek help from a professional. There are different treatment approaches you can choose, among which are motivational interviewing Ottawa, DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, drug therapy Ottawa, EMDR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, CBT or cognitive-behavioral therapy, REBT or rational emotive behavior therapy, and psychotherapy Ottawa.
Each of these treatment approaches differs in one way or another. It is best to talk with your therapist to know which of these approaches best fit your needs and preferences.