Leaving Your Kids to Enter Drug Rehab
You are just understanding the reality your kids have been living through with your drug addiction. You have tried to excuse it, minimize it, justify it, and just plain make believe it wasn’t that bad. But the truth is, you have put your kids through hell and they know it. Now that you are starting to understand, your heart feels heavier than ever before. You’ve made the decision to go to drug rehab as soon as you can, but you aren’t sure what your kids will think of it. You have already left him so many times to do drugs and other or both things. Can you leave them again for drug rehab?
Drug Lifestyle And Clouded Judgment
First, let’s talk about how drug rehab is entirely different from your drug addiction activities. Yes, you may have left them alone when you shouldn’t have people who weren’t safe. That was evidence of your clouded thinking and poor judgment, all brought on by your drug addiction. You probably had no concept of how much time your kids were spending alone, with questionable people, or with you in a drugged out state of mind. Also, you probably didn’t prepare them much from what they would experience and make sure they were well cared for.
Prepare Kids For Drug Rehab Absence
Now let’s take a look at how it would be different when you go to drug rehab. If you are attending and outpatient drug treatment program, their adjustments will be relatively minor. In fact, their schedule may become more predictable even if you spend a few evenings away. They will know when they can count on being with you and when you’ll be busy.
If you are going to an inpatient residential drug treatment center, you will need to do much more for them. They will need 24 hour care for at least a month since the shortest time for most programs is 28 days. You will need to find out what kind of family involvement your drug rehab program has. This will be something you can all look forward to and can breakup the long separation.
You can discuss what you will be doing in terms they can understand. You can also tell them what you did that was hurtful to them and how things will change for the better when you return home. It may seem obvious, but to them it may be just another time you are leaving them behind. It’s so important that you communicate your plans to them directly.
Do Drug Rehab For Yourself
One more thing – avoid telling them that you are doing drug rehab just for them. It may sound like a loving thing, but it may make them feel pressured if you have a relapse later. Tell them it is for everyone in the family, or that you are doing it so you can be a better parent and person. It may sound like a subtle difference, but kids can take things very literally. You don’t want to set them up to feel like they are somehow responsible for your sobriety. You are also much more likely to maintain sobriety if you commit to rehab for yourself.
Leaving Your Kids To Do Drug Rehab
Leaving your kids for drug rehab could be one of the toughest parts of getting sober. But if you are going to make the necessary changes, you’ll need to have time to really focus on it. When you come home, you can share a healthier life with them and keep moving forward.
