Resources for Parents of Children with Substance Use and Mental Disorders
Resources for parents of children with substance use and other mental disorders can be a huge help. Providing resources from a scientific, brain centered approach is even better. Why?
Resources for parents of children with substance use and other mental disorders can be a huge help. Providing resources from a scientific, brain centered approach is even better. Why?
Because substance use and other mental disorders change brain health and function. The brain is the organ that controls everything a person thinks, feels, says and does. It does this through neurons in the brain (brain cells) “talking” to one another and to and from others throughout the body via the nervous system.
When sequences of neurons (aka neural networks, neural circuitry) are repeatedly activated, they form brain maps. These maps become our habits, our go-to behaviors – they’re how we move through our days. Substance use disorders are examples of brain maps built over time.
There are many influences on these brain wiring, mapping and developmental processes. These include genetics, childhood trauma, resilience, brain developmental stages, social environment, early use and toxic stress, to name a few. These influences explain why some teens, young adults and adults develop substance use or other mental disorders, as well as o-occurring disorders, while others do not.
Resources for Parents of Children with Substance Use and Mental Disorders
The following resources’ list is not exhaustive by any stretch, but it is a start. It is divided into sections, as follows:
- Adolescent Brain Development & Influences
- Genetics, Trauma and Stress
- Genetic & Psych Testing
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- Other Mental Disorders Treatment
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Descriptions of Various Kinds of Therapies
- How to Find Therapists
- Therapeutic Education Consultants, Schools and Programs
- Peer Support Help for Parents
Adolescent Brain Development & Influences
- BrainFacts.org’s “The Workings of the Adolescent Brain” (video) provides overview of brain development during the first 2.5 decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sO4tqfUEs
- 10th Anniversary Edition If You Loved Me, You’d Stop, What you really need to know when your loved one drinks too much chapter excerpt, “Basic Brain Facts,” (PDF) helps explain the general concepts of brain wiring, mapping and development. When you understand the influences on your child’s brain wiring, mapping and development, you can better understand what kinds of treatment may be helpful. https://www.breakingthecycles.com/wp-content/uploads/Frederiksen-BasicBrainFacts2019.pdf
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Substance use and other mental disorders resources explaining how the brain wires, maps and develops and the key influences on those processes can be hugely helpful to parents of children struggling with these conditions.
Lisa Frederiksen PACEs “The Developing Brain and Adverse Childhood Experiences” (article) helps explain how early stressful and/or traumatic events can affect a child’s developing brain and thus their overall physical and mental health. https://www.pacesconnection.com/blog/the-developing-brain-and-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s “The Science of Resilience” (video) helps explain the brain’s incredible capacity to heal, repair, rewire, remap for new thoughts, feelings and behaviors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r8hj72bfGo
- KPJR Films’ “ACEs Primer” (video) provides a brief overview of the CDC-Kaiser ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study. [ACEs refers to the 10 types of extremely stressful or traumatic events measured in that study, however the concepts applicable to ACEs are also applicable to other types of trauma.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccKFkcfXx-c
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s “ACEs and Toxic Stress: Frequently Asked Questions” helps explain how childhood trauma (aka ACEs, extremely stressful or traumatic events occurring before age 18) can result in toxic stress, which can have a profound impact of brain development [it is also one of the key risk factors for developing substance use, other mental health or cooccurring disorders] and why “treating” trauma is a critical component of recovery. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/aces-and-toxic-stress-frequently-asked-questions/
- Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD’s book, The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook: Heal the Hidden Wounds from Childhood Affecting Your Adult Mental and Physical Health, helps explain the impacts of childhood toxic stress and how it can imprint and change the brain, biology, and sense of self in ways that affect adult well-being throughout life, if not addressed.
Genetics, Trauma and Stress
- CDC “Genetics Basics” https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/about/basics.htm and Psychology Today “Genetics” [basics].” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/genetics?amp
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s “Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction Drug Facts.” https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/genetics-epigenetics-addiction
- SAMHSA “Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services, Chapter 3: Understanding the Impact of Trauma.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/
- American Psychological Association (APA)’s “Stress Effects on the Body.” https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
- ADDitude’s “How Trauma and Chronic Stress Affect Developing Brains” section provides an overview of how trauma alters the developing brain, triggering behavioral and mental health issues, many of which are also signs of ADHD. https://www.additudemag.com/how-does-trauma-affect-the-brain-chronic-stress-adhd/
Genetic & Psych Testing
- Psych testing can be helpful in detecting Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger, unusual cases of OCD and other brain disorders. The detailed personality analysis portion of psych testing can comment on borderline, narcissistic, and antisocial personality features. It can also be useful for differential diagnosis (the process of differentiating between two or more conditions which share similar signs or symptoms) to identify processing issues/learning challenges, and to guide discharge planning for any specialized treatment that may be helpful (ex: an ADHD coach, IEP/504plan, etc). For more on this check with your child’s therapist or psychiatrist.
- If a client has a history of poor response to or unexpected side effects from two or more psychiatric medications, genetic testing through a company like GeneSight might be helpful. This consists of pharmacogenomic testing (aka drug-gene testing), which looks at how a person’s genes affect their body’s response to medications. For more on this check with your child’s therapist or psychiatrist.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s “Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction Drug Facts” (alcohol is considered a drug) [last updated 2019]. This may be helpful in conversations with others to explain what you and your child are going through; navigating the search for substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment; and dealing with insurance companies. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
Other Mental Disorders Treatments
- National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)’s “Mental Health Disorders and Related Topics” covers overviews, risk factors, treatment and therapies for various mental disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics
Co-Occurring Disorders
- NIDA’s “Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorder Research Report”
Co-Occurring Disorders is having two or more brain disorders (substance use, anxiety and depression, for example). All need to be treated in order to fully heal the brain.
covers the “why” they occur, common risk factors, approaches to diagnosis and treatments. This may be helpful when trying to explain what you and your child are going through as well as in conversations with insurance companies.
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/introduction
Descriptions of Various Kinds of Therapies
- Good Therapy.org’s >Learn About Therapy Types section can help you understand various treatment options you may hear about. It is also a resource for the kinds of therapies you and/or your other children may find helpful. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types
How to Find Therapists
- Psychology Today’s > Find a Therapist section is a search tool for narrowing a list of therapists you feel will meet either your or your child’s after residence therapy needs. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
- Good Therapy.org’s > Find a Therapist section is another search tool for narrowing a list of therapists you feel will meet either your or your child’s after residence therapy needs. https://www.goodtherapy.org/
Therapeutic Education Consultants, Schools and Programs
- According to the Therapeutic Consulting Association (NTC)’s website, they provide a list of “therapeutic consultants and other professionals with an in-depth first-hand knowledge of schools and programs, which they are required to keep current as a part of TCA membership.” https://www.therapeuticconsulting.org/
- According to National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)’s > Who We Are Section, they serve “as a resource of information about [their] organization and the members it serves. [Their] members include therapeutic schools, residential treatment programs, wilderness programs, outdoor therapeutic programs, young adult programs and home-based residential programs working with struggling teens and troubled adolescents.” https://natsap.org/page/NATSAPWhoWeAre
Peer Support Help for Parents
All are free support groups that can help parents connect with other family members going through similar experiences
- Willows in the Wind https://www.willowsinthewind.com/support-groups
- NarAnon Family Groups https://www.nar-anon.org/
- AlAnon Family Groups https://al-anon.org/
- Refuge Recovery https://www.refugerecovery.org/
- The Pathway Program Parent Support Groups https://thepathwayprogram.com/family-substance-abuse-support-groups/
- SMART Recovery Family & Friends https://www.smartrecovery.org/family/
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support and Education https://www.nami.org/Support-Education
- Though not a peer support group, parents have shared that this book has been helpful,
The Parallel Process: Growing Alongside Your Adolescent or Young Adult Child in Treatment.
Lastly…
If you have questions about the information shared or your child’s substance use or other mental disorders, please send me an email to lisaf@BreakingTheCycles.com and we can arrange a phone call. There is no charge.
Lisa Frederiksen
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I’m the Co-founder of Other Parents Like Me. Our space is a peer led community for parents who have kids struggling with mental health conditions and/or substances. I get this and love to see that others out there are trying to spread the word for how parents can get help! Inspiring!