By: AndreaBergman
“I want to learn how to help my son in recovery.” It is a powerful statement. It means you want to see your son take steps to get sober and work to improve his future. When you are at this point, our team at Lakeview Health is here to guide you. Life in recovery can be a challenge. Yet, you want to ensure your son has the tools he needs to thrive in every case.
Is your son struggling with a substance use issue? Don’t hesitate to get him the help he needs. One way to do this is to reach out to Lakeview Health today using our convenient online form or call us at [Direct]. Our compassionate, expert team of addiction specialists is waiting to give your son the tools to achieve genuine, long-term recovery.
Getting Help First
If your son is using drugs and alcohol and battling mental health issues, the first step is to get him professional help. More often than not, people cannot stop using on their own and do well in the long-term. They are facing a disease that needs clinical care and therapy to overcome. Reach out to us for help with treatment options. At Lakeview Health, we offer the full spectrum of addiction treatment and mental wellness services, including:
- Medically supervised detox services
- Residential treatment
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Partial hospitalization treatment
- Comprehensive aftercare
Once you get your son help through a treatment program, he will start on the path to recovery. This is when you can take steps to help him succeed.
How to Help Your Son in Recovery – Real Life Support
With help, you can learn to help your son through many of the issues he will face in the coming years that may prove challenging now that he is in recovery. Support for your son may involve encouraging him able to talk about their thoughts and experiences. In some cases, your son will need continual contact with a mentor who has been through treatment himself. Whatever the level of care your son needs, there are several general guidelines for what your support should look like. These include:
- Encouraging him rather than yelling at him
- Being positive whenever possible
- Providing guidance instead of forcing behaviors or giving ultimatums
- Listening to him rather than telling him what to do
- Exploring his thoughts to know when he needs additional help
Social Events Can Make Life Much Harder
Social events are an excellent way to bring people together, but they often involve alcohol and sometimes drugs. In these situations, it tends to be best for a person early in their recovery journey to avoid these situations. However, eventually, they need to be strong enough to work through them. Social events in recovery may include things like drinking at happy hour with a few people from work. It may consist of going to sporting events to cheer on a favorite team. It may include the experience of going to bars to hang out with friends. How will your son cope with seeing and being around other people drinking?
These types of situations create difficult spots for most people with addiction. It may make them angry that they cannot consume drugs and alcohol as other people do. Part of your job as a parent is to encourage your son to stay the course. You may need to encourage him to find new activities or friends. Instead of going to a bar, why not head out for some adventure hiking? During social events in which you control the experience, why not simply leave alcohol and drugs out of the mix?
It is always important to provide your son with the guidance and support he needs. During addiction treatment programs, he will learn how to overcome these challenges and be stronger than his addiction. Avoidance is not always possible. Yet, having the confidence to make the right decision in these moments is something he can learn.
Know When You Need Additional Support – Call Lakeview Health
“I want to learn how to help my son in recovery, so he has a healthy, happy life. Where do I start?” It is a question many parents of people in recovery have. At Lakeview Health, we will provide you with the tools and resources necessary to help you give your son the right type and amount of support. Contact us at [Direct] or reach out to us online to learn more.
