There are enough challenges for mothers as it is. Unfortunately, mothers who are interested in maintaining their abstinence from drugs or alcohol will face an additional set of challenges when raising children.
Addiction is known to damage personal relationships, contribute to financial and legal issues, and cause reckless behavior. These challenges can be traumatizing for the child of an addicted mother. Unfortunately, recovery can also present challenges such as fatigue, exhaustion, cravings, and emotional instability.
This article will outline some of the difficulties that mothers might face when raising a child after a San Diego detox.
Mothers in Recovery Need Support
If you’re attempting to enter addiction recovery due to the birth of a new child then it’s quite likely that you’ll become overwhelmed. Not only are you going to have to work through the active challenges of addiction, such as cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You’ll also need to come to terms with the emotional difficulties that led to your addiction in the first place.
Pregnant mothers should contact a doctor in a San Diego detox center to learn more about whether or not it’s safe to stop using drugs. If you’ve been using drugs since the start of your pregnancy, due to it being unexpected, then the unborn infant may have developed a dependence on the drugs you’re using.
Suddenly withdrawing from these drugs may prove fatal for the infant. Some doctors will recommend a slower process of weaning off the drugs to reduce the impact on the baby.
If your child is already born then you’ll have to take care of yourself as well as your child. People who are fresh into recovery often experience a lot of emotional turmoil, physical strain, and stress. These issues can easily create issues for a newborn child and should be dealt with accordingly.
Options for Mothers In Recovery
If you or a loved one are a mother in recovery, then the first thing you’ll need to do is make sure that you have the appropriate support. Women have shown to be more responsive to addiction treatment programs when they take part in women-only groups. This is the first thing that you might want to consider: finding some sort of support group or recovery program that is for women.
You may also want to ensure that you have the support of an addiction therapist during this time. Therapy can help you understand your emotions, your behaviors, your beliefs, and your addiction. A good therapist will help you learn to recognize cravings and triggers so that you can stop them before they take over.
You may also want to consider a therapist who specializes in working with new mothers. The ideal therapist would be one who specializes in both addiction therapy and parenting.
Conclusion
Mothers face a large number of challenges, and mothers in recovery face even more. Fortunately, these challenges are not insurmountable, and overcoming them will make you stronger. Consider speaking with a professional at a San Diego detox center to learn more.
