Part of the problem for addicts, especially single parents, is being able to overcome their addiction while at the same time providing care and support for their young children. Unfortunately, for the addict and children, it can make rehab much more difficult.
Parents are faced with many temptations that could cause a relapse. They might feel stressed because their children are being difficult. They could have found out their current or ex-partners are seeking custody of their children. These and other unwanted stressors could cause a recovering addict to start using again.
Even though you might have young children at home, inpatient rehab could benefit you and your family in the long run. There are many benefits to inpatient recovery, which include:
- You are free to focus primarily on recovery from your addiction and overcoming it in a supportive atmosphere.
- You are in a safe environment free from outside triggers.
- You get to explore and become more aware of what your triggers are in greater detail.
- You have help and support learning healthy coping mechanisms.
- You start to develop better lifestyle choices.
- You can work on rebuilding relationships with your children, and other loved ones.
How to Care for Your Children While in Inpatient Rehab
There are several different options you can consider to ensure your children receive proper care while you are in an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center. Acknowledging you have a problem and need help is an important first step on the path to recovery. Most addicts find they can get help with childcare from one or more of the following ways:
- Family members, which could be the children’s’ siblings (if you have an adult son or daughter) grandparents, aunts, uncles.
- The children’s other parent.
- Partner or ex-partner.
- Trusted family friends.
When choosing someone to leave your children with while in rehab, it is important to make sure the people you select are fully cable of providing the necessary care. For instance, you would not want to leave your children with their other parent if the other parent were also an addict.
How to Tell Your Children You Are Going to Inpatient Rehab
It is important to sit down and talk to your children and let them know you are entering a drug rehab treatment program and will be away for a perhaps extended period of time. Remember, time goes more slowly for children, or it seems to, so a few months might feel like a type of abandonment to them. However, if you talk frankly about how this will benefit you and your relationship with your children in the long run, it will better alleviate some of their concerns and worries about your decision to depart for inpatient rehab.
Your objective should also include letting them know you love them and your addiction is not their fault, as children are prone to assign blame to themselves for their parents’ own shortcomings.
If you are ready to take the first steps to recovery, even when you have young children at home, BlueCrest Recovery Center is here to help. Please feel free to contact us at (973) 298-5776 to learn more about our drug and alcohol treatment center today!