Desperate Parents: Why Tough Love Fails Children Struggling With Addiction

What you get to do instead.

Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash

Introduction

When a loved one struggles with the experience of addiction and/or mental and emotional health challenges, families often feel lost, afraid and powerless. The path ahead seems daunting and unclear. Where can families turn to find hope and support when they need it most?

The good news is that healing happens through human connection. By prioritizing compassion and vulnerability within our most intimate relationships — our families — we can transform suffering into wisdom. This ripples outward to inspire our communities.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the research behind connection-based healing and provide actionable steps families can take to rebuild trust. Read on to learn why leading with empathy, rather than judgment, can positively change the trajectory for every member of the family.

The Problems with the Current Approaches

For too long, society’s approach to addiction and mental illness has caused more harm than healing. Rather than compassion, we’ve responded with criminalization, marginalization, and stigma.

Families struggling with a loved one’s problematic…