Dealing with a child that has an addiction is a challenge in and of itself, but when your spouse doesn’t believe you that there’s a problem or doesn’t agree with how to deal with the addiction, it can unravel the family. What can you do when your spouse isn’t on the same page as you with an addicted child? Discover what to do in today’s blog.
When a Partner Doesn’t Believe You
It’s not uncommon for spouses or partners to disagree on ways to handle specific issues with a child; however, when a child struggles with addiction, it can be that much harder to cope with. So, what can you do when faced with a situation where a child has an addiction, and your partner doesn’t agree with the treatment? The first step is to find common ground, which means talking to them and seeing why they feel as they do. If they think the child is merely just using a substance occasionally or in times of stress, it may be wise to talk with the child together or observe the signs of addiction.
When you can confront a child as a united front, it’s much easier to deal with the issue and offer support. You can both agree that academics are important and that you don’t want your child to get caught up in the legal system. Friends are also a significant influence on your child, so if you can agree that they may be contributing to the addiction, this makes for common ground and a way forward. If, however, you can’t find common ground, it may be time to compromise. You can work with that if it’s just a matter of disagreeing on how to deal with the addiction.
You can try both ideas to see if one works better or more effectively than the other. Give it some time and see what happens. For example, if your partner doesn’t agree on counseling but agrees on working with the child first, then compromise with them. Give it a month and see if anything changes. Or, try therapy for a month and see if that works. Keep in mind, if your child has an addiction, the longer you allow it to continue, the worse it will get.
Here are some other ways to deal with a spouse that disagrees with you about a child’s addiction treatment.
Respect Each Other’s Feelings
Although you may have different beliefs or ways of dealing with an addicted child, respecting how each other feels is integral to coming together and helping them. Sincerely listen to your spouse and their viewpoint. You may not be aware of why they feel the way they do, and vice versa.
Talk to a Physician
Sometimes, a professional can help bring the two of you together. When there’s an outside perspective that isn’t personally involved in family dynamics, they can help see reason and bring the two of you together. Furthermore, a physician can recommend a counselor or psychologist that can help.
Schedule an Appointment with a Counselor
If your spouse agrees to go to counseling, it could help bridge the gap between the two of you so that you can help your child. Getting an appointment for your child might also be a good idea. They might not like it, but you’re the parents and therefore, need to agree on the best course of action.
Visit a Recovery Center Together
It may be helpful to visit a rehab center and talk with someone that can explain the recovery process and what they use for treatment. When you have the knowledge necessary to make the right decision for your child, it establishes a needed support system.
Call Ardu Recovery Center
Once you both understand and agree your child needs help in overcoming their addiction, we invite you to reach out and call Ardu Recovery Center. Our staff is here to answer any questions or concerns you have and explain our treatment modalities to help your child recover from substance abuse. We look forward to providing the help and support you need, so please contact us today.
