Mothers feel an immense need to protect and help their children. Watching your son or daughter disappear and spiral downwards due to mental health issues and substance abuse is an incredibly painful experience. You may feel overwhelmed by guilt, anger, and complete helplessness.
Observed behaviors:
Personality: Changes in your child’s personality are one of the first things you’ll notice. They may become angry, moody, violent, sad, and withdrawn. They are not themselves, and you find yourself unable to recognize your own child.
Relationships: Relationships are destroyed and further changed due to substance use and undiagnosed mental health disorders. Friends and family might withdraw from and become fearful of this new person who is a shell of their former self.
Shutting down: Addicts and people suffering from psychiatric disorders may become so withdrawn that everyday tasks are not completed. Personal hygiene and self-care stop happening.
Action:
While your child is suffering, there is a lot you can do that will help both you and your son or daughter. Finding support will help you get through this. That help might be found through support groups like Al-Anon, community support groups, church, or personal therapy with your own counselor.
Boundaries: You will learn how to set boundaries with your child and stop any codependent behaviors you might have that are contributing to his illness. You will learn to let go and surrender to the idea that you can control or change your son.
Education:
Whether it is through counseling, support groups, meetings, or reading, take the time to learn about mental health disorders. By learning about addiction, you will recover and become able to live your life independently of what your child chooses to do with their life.
Addiction is a life-long disease that your son or daughter will always be battling. The fear of a relapse is ever-present and beyond your control.
At Alta Loma Transformational Living, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. Alta Loma uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, where you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan.
We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit, so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 866-457-3843.
