Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns: Healthy Helping Patterns for Families

Countless families have a loved one struggling with both mental health and substance use concerns. Many families struggle to find healthy ways to help their loved one without sacrificing their own health and wellbeing in the process. So, how can families use healthy helping patterns to support their loved one and prioritize their own wellbeing?   Sarah Schwalbach, marriage and family therapist with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a supporting partner of Mom Enough, brings a wealth of wisdom and practical strategies for families in this situation. She highlights the parallel processes that often occur – for example, a son lying about his substance use and other families in turn lying about why he didn’t show up for an important event. Sarah challenges parents to get rid of the idea that “You are only as happy as your least happy child,” urging parents to build community that will help to buffer the effects of your loved one’s choices on your own wellbeing. You will welcome the concrete advice Sarah brings about when and how to confront your loved one and how to set clear boundaries for yourself without trying to control that person’s behavior. Tune into this important episode of Mom Enough and encourage others you know to do the same.   WHY ARE HEALTHY HELPING PATTERNS SO IMPORTANT WHEN COPING WITH A LOVED ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONCERNS? Sarah Schwalbach offers great tips for “striking while the iron is cool” rather than hot. What does that mean in the context of communicating with a loved one struggling with substance use, and what specific tips did Sarah provide for being most effective in encouraging your loved one to accept help and begin to make healthy choices?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE? ❉ HOPE FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION: EXPERT ADVICE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Kate Roselle, licensed clinical counselor and national outreach manager for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s adolescent and young adult continuum of care, joins Mom Enough for a compelling discussion on families facing addiction. She shares tips for effecting change if a loved one is struggling, discusses clinical resources for families, and explores the factors that are associated with the greatest hope of successful treatment and recovery. Roselle says, “The opposite of addiction is connection,” and that informs the work of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.   ❉ HOW TO COPE WITH A LOVED ONE’S ADDICTION: ONE WRITER’S STORY AND INSIGHTS. Beverly Conyers, author, mother, and grandmother, discusses her daughter's addiction & gives tips for coping with a loved one's addiction.   ❉ PARENTAL ADDICTION: IMPACT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP & HOW TO HEAL TOGETHER. Parental addiction has significant effects on children and the parent-child relationship, but there is hope and healing is possible. When a parent is addicted to alcohol or other drugs, their relationships with their children suffer, whatever the ages of the children. Given a chance, school-age children often describe working hard to keep their parent’s secret, trying to take care of their parent, and worrying that they can’t trust their parent to be there when they need them. Helene Photias of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Children’s Program and Paula Frisk of ...