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Beginning Your Recovery Journey

You are an important part of the healing process

 

If you've made it through this guide, congratulations on taking the vital first steps to support your child on the journey of recovery from substance misuse. I hope you now have a better understanding of key principles like leading with compassion over criticism, the power of evidence-based approaches like CRAFT, and the critical importance of self-care so you don't burn out - which is exactly what your child doesn’t need.

My goal in sharing this information is that you feel less alone and better equipped for the challenges ahead with your young adult child. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. You’ll often hear me say this is a marathon, not a sprint, so resilience and daily renewal of hope and compassion are needed to create conditions for positive change in your family.

The truth is, the change you want to see is likely to come in fits and starts. Ambivalence is a part of  the process so don’t get discouraged when you see your teen young adult child take three steps forward and two back - it’s normal.

On dark days when you feel defeated and drained, come back to these core practices:

  • Find a team of trusted friends or family who will support you through the ups and downs of this roller coaster ride
  • Get connected in a safe, supportive and positive community group that will educate and encourage you
  • Practice generous self-care so you have the strength and health needed for the journey
  • Celebrate the small steps you all take forward while not trying to grasp at what's beyond your control

The best way to start is to start small and give yourself plenty of grace. Strengthening the bonds that have likely been broken by distance, lies and shame takes time. And through the lens of compassion and self-awareness, you can be a lighthouse for your child. Let go of blame and shame, lead with your heart, and know you are not helpless to help them.

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