Helping your son deal with his substance use is not easy. Showing your love should be easy in comparison, but tough love can be challenging. One of the best things you can do as a parent when helping your son dealing with an addiction is to act as a parent. That means setting boundaries and holding your son accountable for his actions. The fear that you're not doing right by your son is still real. You may fear you're pushing him too hard or that he'll relapse. At the same time, you must continue to show up as a confident, assertive, and unconditionally loving parent.
At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we understand what both you and your son are going through, and we're here to share the responsibility and share the love. Call our team today at
662.373.2828 to discuss your son's treatment options.
Intervention Can Be the Best Way to Show Your Parental Love
When parents tell their teenage son that they need to 'talk,' their son may do everything possible to avoid that conversation. As a parent of a son dealing with substance abuse, this conversation is an intervention that could be the difference between your son getting the help they need or spiraling further into addiction. The key is to recognize his issues, get involved, and help him the best that you can. Intervention can take many forms, and it can also be one of the best ways to show your son that you love him. A traditional intervention usually involves an outside party or an intervention specialist meeting with the family to talk about your son's behavior and its effect on the family. Confrontation is possible, as is an agreement on what the treatment solutions will be. Once you decide on treatment, you will have more opportunities to work with your son and show him you love him through
family therapy sessions. Together, you and your son's treatment team can create a loving and supportive environment. However, at the same time, you're allowing your son to take ownership of what he's done and the work he needs to do to make it better. Being part of your son's treatment solution can show him that you care and want the best for him.
Offering Your Son Tough Love
Loving a son is one thing. Loving a son as they go through addiction treatment is another. When dealing with substance use, it can be all about tough love. It may involve setting concrete boundaries to communicate that you love him, but you can't support him when he's using drugs or alcohol. The ingredients for successful tough love include the following:
Clear Boundaries
Your son may respond well when he knows just how much he stands to lose because of his addictive behavior. Keeping those consequences in mind can help motivate him to change.
Empowering the Family
Setting the expectations of being a family member is essential. If your son refuses to follow the treatment plan, the family can move forward without him for the sake of focusing on their own health and well-being.
Shifting Power
Many families feel controlled by their child's substance use. But by defining the problem and outlining the power balance, the family empowers themselves to fight together.
Being Real
Teens suffering from substance use or mental health issues typically do not respond to enabling behavior. Instead, focus on real consequences. The reality can break through to them and allow them to listen and change.
Create Consequences and Stick to Them
You could also choose to outline consequences that will occur if your son breaks your trust and refuses the agreed-upon treatment plan in the tough love approach. The consequences can vary depending on the severity of your son's issues and the damage it is causing to the family.
Contact Our Team To Discuss Your Son's Treatment Options
If you think your son is struggling with depression, anger issues, or addiction, the best way to show that you love him is to get him the treatment he needs. Call the treatment team at
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today to get help setting up an intervention and determining the best course of treatment to get your son back on the right path. We'll help you and your son create an individualized treatment plan to help him on his road to recovery. Call
662.373.2828 today to learn more.
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