EMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF ADVERSE CHILHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA-AWARENESS
EMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF ADVERSE CHILHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA-AWARENESS
EMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF ADVERSE CHILHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA-AWARENESS
Children impacted by parental addiction need to know that they, too,
can heal.
If you are somone you love is in immediate physical danger, please call the distress centre closest to you, or 911.
Parental addiction
can feel very lonely.
Addiction facts
I am a child impated by my parent's addiction
My addiction is impacting my children
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
IN CANADA, APPROXIMATELY 18% OF CHILDREN ARE IMPACTED BY A PARENT'S SUBSTANCE USE, SO IF THE STATISTICS ARE TRUE, THEN WE CAN EASILY SAY THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE. BUT WE GET IT. IF YOU ARE LIKE US AND HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE (AND ROLL YOUR EYES EVERY TIME YOU HEAR IT!), YOU MIGHT BE THINKING "IF IT'S TRUE, THEN WHY DO WE FEEL SO ALONE?"
DESPITE ALL THE "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAYS", THERE IS STILL SILENCE AND STIGMA AROUND ADDICTION. SO WE KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO TALK ABOUT, AND / OR TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.
BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT IS OUR HEARTS WORK TO CHANGE THIS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, AND WE WILL HUSTLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT FEEL ALONE.
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
YOUR PARENTS ADDICTION IS NOT YOUR FAULT
Your parent's might make you feel that you are the cause of their drug or alcohol use, but this is NOT true.
YOU might tell yourself that it is your fault, this is also NOT true. We are here to remind you of your worth, and that it gets easier.
YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO CARRY ALL OF THIS ON YOUR OWN!
If you have heard the saying that we are wired for connection, you already know then that we NEED eachother. We especialy need eachother during stressful times, and especially as children.
So remind your child self that you were never meant to do this alone.
18% of children in Canada live with a parent with an addiction.
living with a parent with an addiction is an adverse childhood experience, and increases the risk of other ACEs such as emotional abuse, neglect, and domestic violence
living with a parent with an addiction is an adverse childhood experience, and increases the risk of other ACEs such as emotional abuse, neglect, and domestic violence
Parental Addiction is an adverse childhood experience.
Parental addiction ....... akjhdkjsf alkhjdkj akdjhkjh sfkdhskjfh
Do I have an overactive stress response:
Plan:
-
scared, ashamed, angry, and sad.
-
Grief: grieve your lost childhood, and the parents you wish you had.
-
Responsible for my parent's mood and behaviour.
WAYS MY PARENT'S ADDICTION MAKES ME FEEL:
-
My parent's addiction is NOT my fault (even if they tell me they are using because of me)
-
My EMOTIONAL needs are important (even if my parent's make me feel like they are not)
