When your kids are struggling with an addiction, it can be overwhelming and can upend the entire family.
Talking Points:
- Addiction is a complex issue. It’s nothing like how the movies or TV portray it. You’ll need to research different substances and how they cause addiction.
- “Hitting rock bottom” is not easy to determine. Some people can hover right above rock bottom for months or years. Others might hit bottom and then bounce back for a while, only to return to old habits again
- As a parent, you’ll naturally wonder what you did wrong that caused your child to fall into addiction. That introspection can cost you important emotional energy.
- You can’t forget to build into your marriage or to give time and attention to your other kids as you battle through this. The best thing to do is to find professional help, both for your addicted child and for the whole family.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Describe your experience with addiction. What has proven most challenging for you up to this point?
- What have you learned about treatment options? What is confusing?
- What is your understanding of the rock-bottom idea? Has the addict in your life ever hit that point? Explain.
- What are your biggest fears regarding this issue? How can you find helpful resources to support you?
- How has addiction negatively affected your family dynamics? What do you need to do to change those dynamics?
- What are some boundaries that have worked in your situation? What are some boundaries that have failed?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
