Parent to Parent
Denial
Parents today suffer from a terrible disease called "Perpetual Denial Syndrome." A parent is in denial when the signs and facts of substance abuse are apparent but the parent is unable to accept the truth.Denial occurs when parents do not want to face the painful reality that the teen they know and love could be using drugs. Denial is easier and less painful. Parents never want to believe that it's their kid... it's easier to blame others. Even when parents do become aware of drug use, they often underestimate the extent of their teen's involvement.
Are you an enabler?
- Do you ever "write notes to the school" because your child could not get out of bed due to the use of substances?
- Have you given him/her "one more chance" and then another and another?
- Do you set rules and then don't follow through with them?
- Do you believe that your teen is just going through a stage? "Everyone does it when you are in high school. He/she is just doing what all kids do. It's a right of passage."
We enable our teens when we don't set clear and concise rules against the use of alcohol and other drugs. These strong rules must be in place and we must follow through with consequences so that we can protect them. While teens may object to rules and regulations, they need these guidelines to help them stay safe and healthy.
