Things To Discuss With The Siblings Of Your Child In Addiction Recovery
When you have a teenager who is struggling with addiction issues, getting him or her into a recovery program is an important step to take. While the trained counselors will help your teen through this addiction, it's critical to spend some time talking to your younger children in advance of their sibling returning home from the recovery program. Younger children might not understand the process of addiction, but discussing various points related to this issue can be helpful. You might even wish to see if the recovery facility has a program for family members of addicted individuals to attend. Here are some valuable things to help your younger children understand.
Addiction Is An Illness
It's important for your younger children to understand that addiction is an illness. This will prevent them from thinking that their older sibling is being "bad" by being an addict. This belief could lead to a challenging dynamic in the family if the younger children believe that their older sibling is a bad person for struggling with addiction. Make sure that your younger children understand that some people develop addiction issues, just as some people develop things such as asthma. When the younger children view addiction as an illness, it will hopefully prompt them to be gentler to their sibling upon his or her return home.
Their Sibling Needs Time To Get Better
Younger children might be upset that their older sibling is spending time away from home. If you've arranged a residential recovery program for your teen, he or she might be away for a period of weeks. Make sure that your younger children understand that this time away from home is required for getting better—just as someone with cancer might spend a period of weeks in a hospital, the teen's temporary relocation is in his or her best interest.
The Illness Isn't Contagious
While there is certainly a genetic component to addiction, it's your responsibility to keep your younger children from feeling that they're at risk of developing addiction, too. The discussion of addiction as an illness might make the kids feel that it's contagious and thus something that they might contract. This can lead to a feeling of fear and instability. Make sure that the children know they can't "contract" addiction from their older sibling. If you struggle with discussing any of these issues, seek the help of an addiction and recovery counselor, as many are trained in helping the family members of addicts.
For more information, contact an addiction recovery center such as Brightside Clinic.
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