Help For Parents With An Addicted Child

 

Finding out that your child is an addict is an incredibly painful experience. It doesn't matter if they are a teen, young adult, or fully grown. You must simply remember that you must be strong and supportive for your child, addiction is a disease, and to take care of yourself.

No matter if your child is willing to seek treatment or is continuing use of the drug or alcohol until they can gradually ween themselves off of it, you must be supportive. They might be your child, but you can not make all their life decisions for them. You can, however, be there for them. They might push away from you, but so long as you stay strong, you can both get through this ordeal together.

All diseases require love and support to get through them, no matter if it is addiction, cancer, or any other sort of major health issue. If your child feels locked out from their family for having a disease, it can cause the addiction to be much harder to overcome. You wouldn't tell someone suffering from depression to just ignore their symptoms, would you? Addiction is just as much a disease as any other and to overcome it, your child needs support and strength they may not be able to provide for themselves.

While you are tending to your child, do not forget that they are not the only ones that need to be taken care of. If you let your health suffer during their ordeal, it will only being hardship to you both. If you let this ordeal break apart the relationships you have made, not only with your addicted child, but also with your other loved ones, it can creating a tremendous strain on the relationship you have with your addicted child, as well.

If you find yourself parenting a child with an addiction, whether a teen, young adult, or fully grown adult, you will face a bit of hardship. So long as you give them your full support and strength, remember that this is a disease, and keep your health in mind as well, you will both make it through this ordeal.

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What Is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome For Alcohol Abuse?

When addicts give up their addition, they normally experience withdrawal symptoms, which can be both psychological and physical in nature. Withdrawal symptoms are usually unpleasant and excruciating; however, the benefits of giving up addiction more than make up for the unpleasantness. In the public imagination, withdrawal symptoms only last for a few days. In reality, addicts in recovery can continue to experience some symptoms for months or even years into their sobriety.

The two stages of withdrawal are:

• Acute stage
• Post acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS

During the first stage, addicts may experience some physical withdrawal symptoms. However, every person is different and every drug is different. During the second stage, PAWS, addicts experience more psychological and emotional symptoms, but fewer physical symptoms. This type of withdrawal takes place when the brain chemistry is slowly returning to normal. PAWS symptoms are caused by the fluctuation of the brain chemicals as they approach the new equilibrium.

Whereas people experience different symptoms in the acute stage of withdrawal, in PAWS withdrawal, most people experience the same symptoms. Some of the symptoms of post acute withdrawal syndrome include:

• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Tiredness
• Anxiety
• Low enthusiasm
• Variable energy
• Disturbed sleep
• Variable concentration

The PAWS stage of withdrawal feels like a roller coaster of emotions and symptoms. At the beginning, symptoms change hour to hour, or even minute to minute. As one recovers further, these symptoms will go away for a few weeks or months only to return again. However, as the recovery process continues, the good stretches will get longer. Unfortunately, the bad stretches can be just as long and just as intense.

Once an alcoholic has been in recovery for a significant amount of time, he/she will find that each withdrawal episode will last for a few days. Most episodes do not have an obvious trigger; however, if he/she hangs on, it will lift as quickly as it started. In addition, alcohol addicts should understand that post acute withdrawal usually lasts for about two years, and if they are up for the challenge, they can beat their addiction.

To survive PAWS, one needs to be patient, go with the flow, practice self--care, and try to relax. Every relapse or setback, no matter how small, can undo the gains that the brain made during recovery. Fortunately, anyone who abstains will definitely succeed. Follow us for more information and resources on drug and alcohol abuse and treatment.