Addiction is a disease that discriminates against no one. Anyone can fall victim, even your loved ones. It’s a horrible and deadly disease and those who are victims of it need as much support and help that they can get.
When someone becomes an addict and his or her behavior affects a child, however, there’s more to worry about than the addict themselves. An addict does not place a strain on his or her own life. Addicts place strain on the lives of those around them as well.
Many children don’t know how to deal with a drug addict mother but are placed in the situation none the less. If you know a child who’s suffering from a life with an addict mother, then you’ll want to continue reading below.
Here’s what you need to know about how to explain drug addiction to a child.
1. Stay Honest
There are going to be some things that you simply don’t want to talk about with the child, but it’s important that you stay honest. The child’s age plays a large role in how the conversation should play out. If the child is very young, then they most likely don’t understand what drugs are or what being addicted means.
When this is the case, it might be best to speak of the parent being sick, not well, and fighting with a disease. All of these things are true and easier for a little one to understand than simply saying that the parent is an addict.
You don’t have to get into every detail regarding the situation but do be as honest as possible. For example, if the mother is at a treatment center such as Bridges of Hope Treatment Center, then you can let the child know where the parent is and how the center will help her.
2. Lead Them to an Understanding
To lead the child to a better understanding of the situation, you’ll want to express the following to them:
- You didn’t cause this
- You can’t control this
- You can’t cure this
- You can communicate how you feel
- You can care for yourself
- You can celebrate yourself
- You can make healthy choices for yourself
Many children who have an addicted parent tend to blame themselves for the situation or believe they can fix it. Go through each point listed above and ensure that the child understands that each is true.
3. Give Them Room to Talk
There’s a lot that you want to say and explain to the child, but don’t forget that he or she deserves the floor to speak as well. Give him or her his or her own time to talk to you about anything that might be on his or her mind about the situation.
Offer support whenever needed. The child should know that you’re a safe place and he or she can come to you when needing advice, needing to vent, needing clarification, and more.
Be sure to educate the child on addiction as much as you can depending on how old he or she is. The more the child knows about addiction, the easier it’ll be for him or her to understand the situation.
Help Children Learn How to Deal With a Drug Addict Mother!
When an addict has a child, the child suffers from the addiction as well. Help any child involved in the addict’s life by teaching them how to deal with a drug addict mother by using these tips listed above!
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I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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