Transforming Chaos: Six Steps to Support Your Child Through Addiction
Episode Overview
Wait to have serious conversations until everyone is sober. Treat your child with the same respect you expect from them. Understand self-harm as an attempt at emotional regulation. Focus on collaboration rather than confrontation. Develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills.
A respected child becomes a respectful child.
In episode 100 of 'Living With Your Child's Addiction', Heather Ross shares her journey of navigating her daughter's addiction and the chaos that often comes with it. This milestone episode is packed with practical advice and heartfelt reflections, making it a must-listen for any parent facing similar struggles. Heather opens up about the lessons she's learned, emphasising the importance of self-awareness and self-regulation.
She recounts a particularly chaotic night when her daughter, Helena, came home high, and how a lack of communication skills and emotional intelligence led to a series of unfortunate events. Through this story, Heather illustrates how different approaches could have significantly reduced the chaos and fostered a more supportive environment. The episode is rich with six key changes that parents can implement to create a calmer, more collaborative atmosphere at home.
From waiting to have serious conversations until everyone is sober, to treating your child with the same respect you expect from them, Heather's insights are both practical and compassionate. She also touches on the importance of understanding behaviours like self-harm as attempts at emotional regulation, rather than acts of defiance. By sharing her own experiences and the changes that made a difference in her relationship with Helena, Heather offers hope and concrete steps for other parents in similar situations.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by your child's addiction and looking for ways to end the chaos, this episode provides valuable tools and a compassionate perspective that could make all the difference. Don't miss out on these transformative insights—tune in to learn how you can create a more stable and loving environment for your family.