Family dynamics can be very complex especially when a child has any type of dependency on drugs or alcohol. Parents may not know how to cope with the situation and can end up enabling their child whether they are aware of it or not. Their love for their children and desire to be there for them can sometimes cloud their judgement and they end up supporting their child’s addiction in various ways.
An adult child may call their parents any time they end up in trouble and need financial help. Parents may end up lending an addicted child money for rent or paying for things that they can’t afford due to the amount of money that they spend on drugs. Some parents can’t help but come to the rescue for the children even though it is a way of enabling their addiction.
Parents might struggle with the type of “tough love” approach that is sometimes necessary when a child is behaving unfavorably. Instead of letting them experience the consequences of their actions they instead step in to soften the blow and make sure that their child is okay. Although it is important to always love and care for your child, there is a difference between helping them and enabling them.
Aside from allowing children to experience the negative consequences of their addiction, also talking to them about getting treatment can be one of the best solutions. For those that truly care about their child’s well-being it is essential to make sure that they get the professional help necessary to overcome their addiction. Talking to them one on one or setting up an intervention is the best that a parent can do for their loved one.
If your child has an addiction, research treatment centers that can accommodate them and talk to them about getting help as soon as possible.