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My Son Has A Drug Addiction, What Do I Do?

July 13, 2021July 16, 2021adminFamily Advice, Health, Teenage LifeLeave a Reply

As a parent, one of the greatest challenges you can face is having a son with drug addiction. You may feel at a loss if your son is a drug addict. Keep in mind that individuals with addiction require limits, boundaries, and consequences. Helping your son to recover from drug addiction takes time and patience. You can help your son experiencing substance addiction through the following.

Identify the signs of addiction

If you think that your son has a drug addiction, you should know the signs. Mostly, the top indicators for addiction are behavioral changes. Some of these symptoms include:

Solitude, isolation, and secrecy
Difficulty in sleeping
Dropping activities and hobbies
Doing things out of character such as stealing and more

Setting boundaries

If your son demands money or stealing money from you, cut off these channels as soon as possible. You can implement a gentle approach for successful results. Personal responsibility is essential during the healing process, so you need to be involved in the unfavorable situation of your child.

Never blame your son or yourself

As a father or mother, it is natural that you feel responsible for your child. However, try to understand the situation instead of playing the blame game. Continue loving your child while finding the solution to their addiction. With this, you can establish trust and convince your son into treatment.

Communicate

Honest and clear communication is essential to practice daily. It can help you observe symptoms, gauge your son and discover issues early to react in the best way. You should practice attentive listening and ask questions regularly. It is also beneficial to know more about your son’s feelings, struggles, concerns, and hopes.

Take care of yourself

It can’t be denied that having a son with drug addiction can affect you emotionally. It can lead you to suffer from stress, insomnia, or anxiety. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t make healthy decisions for your son. So, make sure to practice self-care while dealing with your son’s drug abuse problem. Take care of your mental health too. It is a good idea to have someone to talk about your son’s situation to process your emotions and feelings better.

Seek long-term treatment

Drug addiction can’t be treated quickly; that’s why you should seek long-term treatment. You can opt for live-in facilities and sober living communities that offer comprehensive service for an addict who must be sober and stay sober as they leave the facility. Remember that drug addiction recovery is personal. It is better to choose the right treatment center that can heal your son while staying safe.

Never give up

Drug addiction is a chronic illness, so shower your son with support and love after they finish their treatment program. There is a tendency to have a relapse, but they can continue to fight. Luckily, there is a relapse prevention program that can help your child to stay sober.

Conclusion

Having a son with drug addiction is a serious matter. With this, you should know what to do to help your child recover from this illness. By following the tips we mentioned above, you can help your son to get the best drug addiction treatment he deserves. …

How To Talk To Your Teenager?

February 14, 2021July 16, 2021adminFamily Advice, Teenage LifeLeave a Reply

It can be challenging to raise your teenagers as a parent since they tend to be more stubborn. Meanwhile, communication with your teenager is essential to establish good relationships with them. To help you, the following are the best ways to talk to your teenager.

Ask open-ended questions

Ask your teenager questions not answerable by yes or no. With this, they can say more as they reply to you. For example, you can ask like “Tell me about your day” instead of “How is your day.”

Listen more

You should listen more than you speak while talking to your child. It can help you to have a more meaningful conversation with your teenager. You will also know about their thoughts and feelings. So, you can understand them more. Active listening can also help to make your teen feel important.

Stay calm

When talking to your teenager, avoid being frustrated. Instead, stay calm to make them comfortable opening up to you.

Be a trustworthy parent

Don’t share the personal stories of your child to others. In addition, never make fun of your teen since it can affect them emotionally. Always respect the privacy of your teenager.

Be willing and ready to discuss things they like to talk about

You need to be ready to discuss the topics they like to talk about, including sex, alcohol, drugs, and relationships. So, you can be prepared as they approach you with difficult ideas and questions.

Provide help

Allow your teen to know that you’re always available to help them. You can ask them if they need any advice from you.

Treat them with respect

As you talk to your teenager, treat them with respect. Never miss their opinions and feelings. You can discuss your differences without judging your child. Use an open mind while listening to their point of view.

Don’t provide lectures

If your teen receives a lecture from you, they are less likely to share things with you next time. You can show your concerns, but you should understand that your teens want to experiment. You need to be upfront on rules and consequences.

Apply patience with your teen

If your teen is having a rough time with their relationship or other friends in school, it can be difficult for them to talk about it. So, don’t force them and be patient.

Plan a one on one time with your teen

Despite your busy schedule, you can plan a one on one time with your teenager. For example, you can take them to their favorite restaurant to spend time together and have a conversation. You may also go shopping with your teen. It can be a chance for them to talk to you while being calm.

Conclusion

The teenage year is a stage of change for your child physically and mentally. It is also the stage where they can develop their identity and be more independent. Therefore, you need to be a supportive parent to understand your child and raise them properly.

Communication is important to help your teenager grow emotionally and mentally. That’s why you need to talk more to your teenager. Considering the tips we mentioned in this article, you can have a more meaningful conversation with your child. …