Thursday, October 2, 2014

First Aid Kit for Parents of Addicts

As I walk around my work I see first aid kits on the wall. In many stores, arenas, airplanes you see a heart defibrillator. Driving down the street I pass fire stations and police stations. There are urgent care centers and hospitals. Everywhere I see people, places and emergency kits for people in crisis.

As the parent of an addict where do we turn for our crisis? What do we do when you don't know what to do? Where is our first aid? Who comes to us with lights flashing, sirens screaming and emergency technicians?

Our help is left to us. It's up to us to seek our own treatment, diagnose, what is hurting us and then prescribe our own treatment. Who has a first aid kit for parents of an addict hanging on their wall? Has anyone even seen one before? I haven't seen one yet so I thought maybe we should create our own.

If I had to create my own first aid kit for parents of addicts here are some of the things I would stock.


  • A list of things that no matter what bring joy in my life. 
  • Phone numbers of people that have walked in my shoes that never turn off their phone.
  • Pictures of me in my lifeboat
  • Emergency phone numbers of help lines that can help me or my child.
  • Probably a piece of chocolate.
  • Six inspirational sayings or quotes that speak to me deep inside each time I see them.
  • Reminders: take a deep breath, it's OK to cry, you are not alone, the sun will rise again in the morning.
  • A list of people that love me unconditionally, that know I need them and they don't judge me.
These are some things I would consider essential in a first aid kits for the parent of an addict. What have I forgotten? What else would you add the the kit?

 

13 comments:

Pam Lanhart said...

The book "Boundaries" and "co-dependent no more"
Narcon
Some of the names of the great groups on Facebook for support. The Addicts Mom and Parents of Addicts

Joe said...

I would add long walks and healthy meals to the list.
Thank you for this list, it's very tender and sincere.

Carrie Van Horn said...

Love your list here. I think it is important to be told it is okay to cry. So much of the time people so "don't cry"...but sometimes it is necessary....thank you for sharing this.

Lisa said...

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

karl said...

Naltraxone.

Tori said...

I have a list Ron - mine is a chocolate bar....maybe I should change that. I have a little book of quotes that I try to look at each day. One of the things I really try to focus on is everything that I do have and as much as I don't always believe it I remind myself that there is hope.

Everyone one should have a list of things that help them.

DDD said...

All of Anne Lamott's books, the book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, a bicycle for riding when you're stressed, chocolate, a good therapist, Al-Anon meetings, and unconditional love for your child. Oh, and cats! :)

Unknown said...

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Alex A. said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

I really appreciate your list. It is really heart warming to read those. it will be a great help to any body to cheer up someone whoa re in suffering addiction and depression. There are drug treatment center , who are helping individuals to cope up from alcohol and drug addiction and depression.

1Mom said...

I would add a dog - great therapy!

Bea said...

Pictures of my son when he wasn't high.

Johnnie Smith said...

I feel your pain. We held an intervention for our daughter about eight months ago and got her to enter into a rehab program. While she was making wonderful progress at the facility, we found that we were having so many emotions that we did not know how to deal with. I wish there were more support and help for us parents of addicts.

Johnnie Smith @ Ranch Creek Recovery