Loving an addict is hard. But it can be even more difficult when the addict is your child. Many mothers are torn between helping and loving their child without enabling them. They also feel like they have failed as a parent or that they are the reason why their child is an addict. If your child is an addict, here are three things that you need to know.
How to Avoid Placing Blame on Yourself
You did not make the life choices that your child made. As a mother, this can be difficult to hear, but it is the truth. Your adult child is on a path based on their life choices. Unfortunately, those life choices have led them to where they are and will continue to lead them in whatever direction they choose. No matter how hard it is, you must remind yourself that this is not your battle to win for them.
Know the Difference Between Helping and Enabling
Another thing that you need to know as the mother of an addicted child is what the difference is between helping and enabling. You may think that you are helping your child when you give them money. However, you really may be enabling their addiction. The best way you can help your child is to encourage their sobriety. If they do not want to get sober, there is nothing you can do to help them and providing them with anything else aside from love is enabling.
Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Lastly, you need to know how to protect yourself and your family from an addict child. Having a child who is an addict can wear on you mentally and emotionally. And it can take a toll on everyone else in your household as well. Participating in therapy, counseling or programs designed for families of addicts can help you learn how to cope, how to care for and love your other children and how to protect yourself and your family mentally and emotionally from the toll an addict can take on your lives.
Being the parent of an addict is one of the most difficult things a parent can go through. If you are looking to encourage your child to get sober or simply want some resources to help guide you through the process, be sure to visit My 12 Step Store. Our store has products that both addicts and their family and friends can use to learn more about the issues facing addicts and how to encourage and live a sober lifestyle. Visit our store today to check out all of our products.