Five Actions to take to prevent your teen from using drugs
Category: Teen Dreams | Oct 28, 2009 |
Drug use is an epidemic; then again the term epidemic might be misleading considering that mind altering substances have been around since the dawn of mankind. As a Professional Counselor, who has spent a significant portion of his career working with teens that have developed a dependency for drugs and alcohol; I have learned five primary things about the families who have been fortunate in being able to steer their adolescent children from drugs. So here are five actions you can begin taking today, (even if your child is not yet a teen) to ensure, your teen doesn’t develop a habitual pattern of drug and alcohol abuse.
One: Don’t use drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
Don’t use drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Yes I know, most fathers reading this might find the alcohol portion to be a put off, but there are research studies that support the belief that genetics plays a big role in addiction and habitual abuse of substances. Furthermore the number one excuse that most kids who use drugs will give is that they have parents who use drugs or drink alcohol, and that the parents are just fine. We are all biologically different, so while there are people who use and drink and get away with minimum side effects, your teen could be among the unlucky many who are more susceptible to drug abuse and /or addiction.
Two: Problem Solving.
Teach your teen to embrace problem solving issues, from being picked on, to not making a team, to-(the nightmare of most parents) receiving bad grades in school. Learn not to catastrophize problems in your life or problems your child is going through. Show your child through role modeling that problems are to be embraced and taken with stride because there are seldom quick solutions. Time and time again during psychotherapy with teens that are dependent of drugs and alcohol, I have found that their initial usage was triggered by a desire to fix a problem. Usually in regards to numbing painful feelings experienced from the ongoing problem.
Three: Know Thy Friends.
Most parents I work with see their child as being negatively influenced by their friends, in half these cases, it turns out that the child was the primary negative influence on others in the community. The primary reason you want to know our child’s friends is to gain an understanding of where your child is emotionally and mentally. It would be nice if you got to know the parents of your child, but don’t waste your time with this one, as your child is more than likely to interpret you wanting to know his or her friends’ parents, as a sign of prejudice and control. They may secretly not want to adopt your lifestyle and that’s okay. Instead in getting to know your child’s friends, focus on what makes them tick, what they like to do for fun, and what their hopes and dreams are. It is important to note that style of clothing is always a terrible predictor of who your child’s friends really are.
Four: Educate your child about drugs and alcohol.
Educate yourself, and then educate your child about drugs and alcohol and their detrimental side effects. Don’t rely on your child’s school to do this, even if you know for a fact that they have such a mandatory program. During the time you take to educate your child, you can also seize upon the opportunity to set your ground rules and expectations with your child about the possibility of drug use. Remember no catastrophizing; just be firm and straight forward with your plan of actions, in the event you were to find out that drug use is going on.
Five: Unconditional Positive Regard.
This is very important, it is not unusual for parents to have such high expectations for their sons and daughters, and then become terribly disappointed when things don’t go to plan. It is important that no matter what your child is going through, you should always be cognizant about showing them genuine love and care. Genuine love and care, does not translate into enabling, and it does not mean you shouldn’t set firm boundaries and consequences. Just remember that your child does not have to meet your expectations in order for him or her to be loved.
Ugochukwu Uche MS., LPC
http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/counseling-services.asp
Watch the video related to teen dreams
Follow the life of Girls Next Door a girlband.
HAHAHAHHA JUDITH
Oh this is great.
I love them haha, the best bit is at the end with Judith’s lines.. “are we gonna have to wheel you on soon?”, “she’s gonna have a bloody colostomy bag soon!” ahahhaa.
Those songs are so catchy! Haha Gwen cracks me up XD
Champagne comedy!
This is THE BEST sketch that the Late Show did! I love Jane and Judith!
I can’t thank you enough for posting this video!!
I'm an 18 y/o girl and my dream car is a Lexus LS 600H
http://www.autosite.com/images/2008/Lexus/LS_600h_L_Staff/400/08_Lexus_LS600h_L_13.jpg
*Drools*
To dream that you are pregnant, symbolizes an aspect of yourself or some aspect of your personal life that is growing and developing. You may not be ready to talk about it or act on it. This may also represent the birth of a new idea, direction, project or goal.
The boys you hate indicates repressed aggression and your fear of confrontations. On the other hand, you may forcing your views and opinions onto others. So the interpretation of your dreams is that you fear confrontation with the boys even though you intend to force your new ideas, direction, project or goal on these boys.
yeah but I don't really consider it cool, it creeps me out especially in the middle of the night when my scream and gasp wake me up because i'm dreaming about dead humans that are non-existent anymore.. nightmares are not really supposed to be fun, unless you're really into dead creatures and reptiles that crawl under the surface of your skin.. lol.
I don't think teens are alone in that.
also check out NLT in Popstar August 2008 issue
I know this might "sound" rather annoying to you at this moment in your life, but, believe me, everything, boyfriends and such, will all fall into place at the right moment. You just need to give it time.
It has no lasting meaning and no significance at all with your waking life. You are fortunate to be able to dream marvelous detailed dreams that can excite, entice, embolden, frighten, arouse, sate, tire, enliven, and virtually every other action to your mind.
I also have these types of dreams and something I began doing years ago was the next night when it was time to sleep again, I would think about that dream and often my mind would pull me right back into that dream.
A disadvantage of these powerful dreams always to me was that I always seemed to be in the middle of one when the alarm went off to get up and I would hit the snooze and try to sit up and start waking up, but the dream had tremendous power to lure me back into it and to sleep.
As you've discovered dreams of this kind also have the wonderful advantage of sometimes leaving you with a happy warm glow when you wake up. Sometimes lasting all day so that you think 'what is it that I'm so happy about?' then realize it is that dream still tucked away in your mind.
Few people I hear these days use the apt and appropriate word "lovely." It is a good word and you must be an educated and well-read person. I hope you have many lovely days to come, based on real life.