Addiction can bring out the worst in our children. Drugs and alcohol are mind altering substances which change the structure of the brain. If our children already have a tendency toward emotional hysterics, their abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as the habits they develop, can exacerbate those emotional episodes.
Emotional manipulation is a common symptom of addiction. When addiction takes over the brain, it creates an urgency for survival. Climbing the order of operations for survival in the midbrain, addiction becomes the most important part of your child's life, according to his brain. Emotional manipulations, lies, deceit, and hysterics are all part of their chemically altered mind's attempt to ensure that the need for using drugs and alcohol is fulfilled. Unfortunately, these behavioral patterns can become habit. Through treatment and therapy, your child will work diligently to identify these patterns, the feelings associated with them, and learn how to actively choose a different approach. Habits do die hard. When your child is triggered or overstimulated, he might resort to these behaviors because it is what is familiar to him, even though it brings him and his family significant amounts of pain. If these behaviors continue long term after treatment and therapy, you may need to assess whether or not he has relapsed and speak with his therapist.
Emotional manipulation can come in many forms and for many reasons. Most often, at the core of a child's attempts at emotional manipulation is fear. It is easy to get caught up in your child's emotional tactics. If you recognize any of these behaviors, or situations, realize your son is resorting to manipulative tactics. Your child is not
bad
. He is learning to get well.
- Your child vehemently denies the truth
- Your child tries to convince you that what you believe to be true is wrong
- Your child will make promises but act against them
- Your child regularly uses guilt against you
- Your child takes the position of the victim
- You often feel drained, confused, and exhausted after fights with your child
- Your child uses his experience with addiction to undermine yours
- Your child knows how to rile you up and does so regularly
- Your child throws temper tantrums when you stand up against his manipulations
Taking a stand for your child shouldn't be hard. When addiction is part of the picture, it can be. The team at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center is here to support you and your family every step of the way in helping your teenage or adolescent boy find recovery. Our long term residential programs provide foundation building therapies, cleansing healing practices, and proven academic support. Call us today for information: 662-598-4214
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