Planning an intervention for your child may seem like a difficult thing, but it is one of the most effective methods of intervention used. As parents, we are responsible for loving, caring, and nurturing our children. Sometimes, this involves getting them to help themselves.
Dealing with a child that suffers from addiction can be terrifying. As children and teens grow, their body and mind go through several phases of development. Adding drugs or alcohol to the mix can severally alter the way the brain develops. Studies show that scans of teens and young adults’ brains show a significant difference in the areas controlling behavior, learning, judgment, memory, and decision making in individuals with substance abuse problems.
If your child is dealing with a substance addiction, it is important that you take steps toward helping them. Prior to intervening, it is important for you to collect yourself. Take a deep breath and think about what you are going to say. Quite often, parents find it helpful to write down their thoughts and speeches so they are able to get their point across clearly. It is important to establish a foundation prior to having the conversation.
Take a positive approach. Begin with a nurturing approach where you explain how important the child is to you, how what they are doing is affecting you both, and how you hope things will change. Quite often, individuals with addiction problems are suffering from painful experiences in the past. It is important that your child knows they can move forward and you are there to help them along the way if necessary.
Sometimes it is more helpful to bring other friends and families into the mix. Having a larger support team will let your child know that many people care about them and they are all willing to work together for a better future. The intervention team should include:
- Family members
- Friends that are sober
- Relatives that are sober
- Employers or coworkers
- A doctor or trained professional
The sad truth is that we cannot force other people to get the help they need. Instead, we can try to influence how they feel about life, help them see positivity in the future, and help them discover happiness in safer ways.
Regardless of whether or not your child chooses to seek help at this time, it is important that you continue to be supportive and caring of them. By speaking gently and using loving language you will have a better chance of influencing them to help themselves now or in the near future.
Addiction is an extremely deadly disease to deal with, and the last thing we want to experience as parents is the loss of a child. At Asana Recovery, we understand how devastating an addiction can be for the entire family. It is crucial to have a safe place for your loved one to go so they can get the help they need. If you or a loved one has a child dealing with an addiction, call us at (949) 329 – 5479 to see what options are available.
