We are parents as well. That is why we understand how scary it can feel when your daughter goes into treatment. You may have many questions when she is in recovery. These may include: “Am I making the right choice?” “What will it be like for them?” “Are they all alone?” “Will they be safe?” “What will they be like when they return home?” “Will they hold something against me for sending them to treatment?” The reality is that as scary as it may feel to send them to treatment, it most likely pales in comparison to how scary it was when they were doing the things that made treatment a necessity. Hopefully, remembering this offers a reminder that taking action is always the right choice.
Stepping Back From My Daughter’s Treatment: The Importance of Space While She Is in Recovery
Because all of these emotions can arise while she is in recovery, many parents try to connect with their daughter as soon and as much as possible. This is understandable. It is our child after all. However, this persistence about connecting may actually be doing more harm than good.
In early recovery, it is vitally important that the individual focus solely on themselves and their recovery. While this may feel selfish to those loved ones who were hurt by their behaviors, it is important to remember that they need this time. They need this time to process their new situation, their new mission, and their new goals.
We must remember that our children became dependent on something outside of themselves (addictive substances) to function. They must relearn being dependent on themselves. Then they can learn to be dependable for others, including their parents and family. This is when connecting with your daughter while she is in recovery should commence.
Stepping Back Into My Daughter’s Treatment: The Importance of Getting Involved While She Is in Recovery
Just as holding back while our daughter is early in treatment is important, getting involved when the time is right can be critical for long-term success. We should never wait until they come home from treatment to engage with their journey. No, we should become a part of it as soon as it makes sense to do so.
If our daughter is to heal, our family must heal as well. This means that while she is doing work to better herself, we must be doing the same. She is engaging in therapy to unearth the underlying emotions causing her difficulties. We too must be engaging in personal development to see how her issues have affected us.
Mental Illness and Addiction Involve the Family
It is important to remember that mental illness is a chronic “disease.” Just like any other disease, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, it is only going to get worse unless some type of professional intervention takes place. The same is true for the family.
Just as addiction is a disease, so too is addiction a “family disease.” What this means is that the entire family will be affected by one member’s negative behaviors. Because of this, everyone needs help to recover from those behaviors and dynamics. This recovery can happen at family workshops while she is in recovery.
The Benefits of Family Workshops: Healing the Entire Family While She Is in Recovery
Here at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we have workshops that can help parents and the entire family become engaged in their daughter’s recovery. By being engaged, not only can parents better understand what their daughter is struggling with. They also can assess how their daughter is progressing in her recovery.
These workshops are also a way for the family to become involved in the recovery process early. This early engagement can be invaluable after a child returns home. That’s because there will already be a plan in place for ensuring that growth continues and that any triggers don’t cause a relapse.
That being said, part of engaging with our daughter’s recovery is to engage with a relapse prevention plan while she is still at the treatment center. This will ensure that everything is ready the moment she steps back into the home. This plan includes things like making sure there is a sober network already in place. It ensures there are no triggering things in the house (such as alcohol) and that a family pact is made that includes rules and consequences moving forward.
Helping the Entire Family Heal at Clearview
Here at Clearview, we believe in family values and helping everyone thrive in recovery. This doesn’t just include our students. We try to engage with everyone at some point in the journey.
Have no doubt, recovery is a journey. Also, it is a journey best traveled together, and there are no better traveling companions than our family members. The road to recovery is a beautiful one. Our goal is to make sure that the road is ready for the ride. Everyone should get ready and buckle up.
Parents often, understandably, have mixed feelings about being away from their kids for an extended period of time while they are in recovery. Now, while those concerns are valid, at first a disconnection from their daughter may be best. After that, getting involved becomes a crucial part of the recovery process. If you feel like your daughter may be struggling with issues of addiction, mental health, or both, we can help get her on the positive path to long-term recovery. Your entire family can recover and heal. Don’t wait to reach out. For more information on the benefits of family workshops and family therapy for reconnecting to your daughter, please reach out to Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.
