When someone abuses alcohol or drugs, family members and loved ones mostly feel the resultant effect. A person’s drug addiction can take a significant toll on the emotional, financial, and psychological health of those closest to them. Dealing with a parent in a drug rehab center can be challenging. You have to give them all the love, encouragement, and support you can muster to help them deal with the substance abuse problem. Do you have a parent in a drug rehab center? If so, here are a few valuable tips to help you cope.
Visit them regularly
A drug or alcohol use disorder isn’t a death sentence. Make your ailing parent feel loved by sticking with them through this crisis. Knowing that your beloved parent is in good hands can be enough to keep you going. That said, try to schedule routine visits to the addiction treatment facility where your parent is being held. Please encourage them to continue with the addiction treatment program.
You may want to learn more about the treatment options available to drug addicts. Many drug addicts are enrolled in inpatient rehab programs to allow them to detox from the drugs. A psychiatrist may also place them on prescription medication to alleviate their recovery experience.
If you live in the Phoenix metro area, you’re lucky, because many drug rehabs in Phoenix offer comprehensive inpatient rehab programs. Studies show that about 245,000 people struggle with substance abuse disorder. You can track the treatment plan to monitor the progress made. As you know, inpatient treatment starts fully after the detoxication is complete. Once you notice clear signs of improvement, you can request your parent to be moved to an outpatient program. The outpatient treatment will allow them to spend the night in the comfort of your home without disrupting their treatment.
Speak to a counselor
Addiction can be a difficult thing to deal with, even for adults. Taking care of a parent in a drug rehab center can put significant stress on you and other household members. You might want to enroll in physical therapy. Physical therapists have the prerequisite training and experience to help you cope with stress and confusion. Additionally, the counselor can teach you ways of coping with relapses and handling emergencies. Emergencies may come in different forms, including addiction-related violence and overdoses.
Thankfully, most schools have licensed counselors to help children deal with parents with drug addiction problems. If your school doesn’t have an on-site counselor, consider speaking to an independent college counselor to learn viable coping mechanisms. Before choosing any counselor, check to determine their membership in acclaimed professional associations like the American School Counselor Association. If you’re yet to complete high school, you should speak to any of the high school counselors in your school. If you plan to pursue higher education, personal counselors can help make your college admission process smooth.
Find a support group
Having a parent suffering from addiction can be challenging, especially when you can’t talk about it to anyone. The sad reality is that most people don’t like talking about their parent’s problems with others for fear of stigmatization. If you’re not comfortable talking about what you’re going through with those around you, consider joining a support group. Essentially, a support group provides a safe space to talk about the frustration, hurt, embarrassment, fear, and anger you feel about your parent’s drug use problem.
Summer groups come with many benefits. They can encourage you and give you valuable advice on how to cope better with the situation. A quick web search can return the websites and contact information of support groups within your community.