The Seven C’s for Helping Your Child Heal During Your Recovery
Substance abuse impacts not only the individuals using, but also friends and families. This includes the smallest members of your family – your children. It can be especially difficult for a child to watch their mother or father struggle with an addiction. The constant ups and downs at home can leave children feeling confused and hopeless.
Oftentimes, an unstable environment may lead to other problems in children. For example, growing up in a home with an addicted parent may bring about feelings of shame, guilt and self-blame. While children may be told it’s not their fault, it’s sometimes hard for them to believe or even fully understand.
When family challenges arise, there’s no exact way of telling how a child will respond. Several ways a child may react to their parent’s addiction include:
- Doing poorly in school
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Taking responsibility for siblings or parents
- Trying to be perfect for everyone around them
- Getting angry or hostile about life
- Becoming depressed and submissive
Once you’ve decided to seek treatment for substance abuse, you should talk to your child about the recovery process. While it’s not an easy conversation to have, it’s a necessary one.
To help your child cope while you’re in recovery, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics developed the “Seven C’s.” This aims to encourage children and recognize that their parent is getting the help they need.
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