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Ibd Sufferers: You Can End the Struggle

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Ibd Sufferers: You Can End the Struggle

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis eight years ago, and I was told that I would likely struggle with flare-ups for the rest of my life. I heard stories of other sufferers who had to eventually have their colons removed, and I became determined to not become part of this statistic. I was prescribed a daily medication that helps manage my condition, and although I don't like taking pills, I realize I need it to keep my colon healthy. I still experienced flares, so I began an elimination diet recommended by my doctor and found my "trigger" foods. I have now been flare-free for two years! I created this blog to help remind others with IBD that there is hope. You can end the constant struggle if you work with your doctor to try different methods of controlling your disease.

Four Tips For Parents Of Heroin Addicts

28 April 2018
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

As a parent, you always hope that your child will grow into a strong, independent adult. So when you young adult child begins abusing heroin, it's normal to feel complicated emotions ranging from worry, to self-doubt, to fear. Navigating life as a parent of a heroin addict can be extraordinarily challenging. Here are four tips to help you through.

1. Be Patient

Many parents initially assume that if they get their son or daughter into heroin addiction treatment, the nightmare will be over. But recovering from heroin addiction is a long process -- one that can sometimes take a lifetime. Your son or daughter needs to be ready to admit they have a problem before treatment will be effective. So, you need to be patient and understand that this may not be a problem you can fix right away. Rather, it will have to be one you slowly work at solving over time. 

2. Seek Therapy Yourself

You're not the one with the drug addiction, so you may not think you need treatment. However, therapy can be incredibly helpful for parents of addicts, too. Just talking to a professional about your feelings a few times per month can help you get a handle on those feelings and approach them in a healthier way. Your therapist can also give you tips for dealing with your son or daughter in a healthy, productive manner, which will be better for the both of you.

3. Do Not Be Ashamed

So often, parents avoid telling friends and relatives what they are going through because they are ashamed that their child is an addict. But keeping closed-lipped and feeling self-conscious will just make the situation harder to handle. Talking openly about addiction may be hard at first, but in doing so, you are helping to erase some of the stigmas that goes along with addiction and makes it tough for addicts to seek treatment in the first place.

4. Help Your Son or Daughter Explore Treatment Options

If the addiction has been going on for a while, you may be tempted to just tell your son or daughter that they are on their own -- you don't want to see them until they've gotten treatment. However, this approach is not very kind or understanding, and it may drive your child away permanently. A better approach is to be ready with suggestions when your child is ready to seek treatment. Contact inpatient and outpatient facilities in your area to see what they offer, and present this information to your child when they are ready to listen.