Achieving sobriety is a challenging feat. If you are a parent, you may wonder how you can balance parenthood and recovery simultaneously. Upon leaving treatment, you will face a number of new challenges. Depending on your chosen treatment program, you may return home to your children for the first time in at least 30 days. Reclamation with the everyday hustle and bustle of work, kids, and other responsibilities may take a bit to get used to. However, it is imperative to know that you can successfully balance recovery and the responsibility of being a parent simultaneously – even if it takes a little help.
Managing Your Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Before you leave treatment and return to everyday life, you must be able to manage your substance use disorder (SUD). That requires you to take what you learned during treatment in rehab and apply it to your life. It also requires you to make changes to maintain sobriety as you tackle all the challenges recovery throws your way.
In order to maintain sobriety long-term, you must create a recovery plan. There is no one “right” plan. Recovery plans are most effective when they are individualized. Before leaving treatment, it is necessary to sit down with a clinician or case manager and plan as much as possible for the road ahead. That includes finding a local support group and a therapist to see on a regular basis. You may also need to end toxic relationships and potentially find a new place to live if your situation prior to treatment is no longer suitable for you or your children.
Many people find it beneficial to move home post-treatment to be closer to family. Family support is critical to a successful recovery and can also help when kids are involved. For example, attending therapy and support meetings will require your children to stay with trusted individuals. That may be grandparents, family friends, or others you trust to watch your child when you must focus on sobriety.
Speaking of therapy and support group meetings, you may be wondering how much of a benefit they will be to you post-treatment. Specifically, how can therapy and support groups help you balance a life of parenthood and recovery?
The Importance of Attending Therapy and Support Groups
There are several benefits of continuing therapy post-treatment. Therapy can improve your communication skills, allow you to experience more happiness, and improve mental function and relationships. When the mind is well, the body is well too. Attending therapy will also help you learn how to prioritize your physical and emotional well-being and focus on sobriety and your mental health.
Therapy also helps people feel empowered. As you continue going to therapy post-treatment, you will learn more about your addiction and ways to cope with it. Managing daily life challenges during recovery will be triggering. Therapy can help you through those triggers.
Similarly, support group meetings are vital to coping with triggers, cravings, and anything else life throws at you. Hearing the stories of others will inspire and motivate you to persevere, especially on days when you feel like giving up. Many of the people in these meetings may also have children. Peers who have been in recovery for a while will be able to offer advice and guidance on balancing parenthood and recovery.
Finding the right therapist and support group may take time, especially if this is your first time seeking mental health services and being in recovery. Patience and persistence are vital during that time of searching.
Balancing Parenthood and Recovery
Once you have a recovery plan, a therapist, and a strong support network, you can find new ways to balance parenthood and recovery. Here are a few ways you can start balancing the two today:
- Never shy away from asking for help – children do not come with an instruction manual.
- Be sure to attend mental health appointments and meetings.
- Discuss recovery with your children in a way most suitable for them.
- Be proactive when experiencing triggers. Go to a meeting, discuss them with your therapist, or reach out to a peer for help immediately.
- Prioritize self-care, whether that includes going for a walk with your children, taking day trips with them as much as possible, or spending some quiet time with yourself when able.
Parenthood and Recovery Are Possible
At the end of the day, there is no sure way for people to balance parenthood and recovery simultaneously. Sometimes it will be trial and error, just like anything else in life. The best thing you can do is focus on your children, stick to your recovery plan, heed the advice of others, and know that you are not alone.
If you or someone you love is a parent struggling with addiction, reach out to Excel Treatment Center today.
Sometimes when you seek addiction recovery, other factors influence your decision to do so. For many, that factor is their children. During treatment, you will create a recovery plan to help you maintain sobriety long-term. This plan will help you cope with the challenges life will throw at you post-treatment. Unfortunately, balancing parenthood and recovery post-treatment will take some time, but with the help of your support system, you can do it today. Know that there is a better life than one in active addiction and that maintaining sobriety long-term is possible. For the sake of yourself and your children, reach out to a treatment facility today. Call Excel Treatment Center at (833) 883-9235.
