Why Don’t They Want Help? Take 2

Why Don’t They Want Help? When Your Addicted Child Refuses Treatment

Loving a child who’s battling addiction or mental illness, yet refuses help, can be one of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent faces. If you’ve offered therapy, rehab, and every kind of support, only to hear “no,” you are not alone in feeling lost, confused, and drained.

I know this frustration all too well. No matter what I said or did, my son told me I was the one with the problem—not him. He said I was crazy and needed help, and that he couldn’t live with me anymore. He often turned his emotions back on me, making it feel like I was the one losing my mind.

From my experience, there are very short windows when my son would be more open to listening and reasoning, but those moments would pass quickly. These windows are fragile and don’t last long enough to get to therapy or rehab. The times I did get him to rehab were during these short periods, but they come fast and leave just as fast.

If you’re a parent walking this road, be alert for those brief moments when your loved one is less agitated and more willing to talk. These times are precious opportunities.

Here’s what I cover in the podcast:

• Why children struggling with addiction often say no to help, even when they desperately need it

• The emotional disconnect between what we see and what they feel inside

• How fear and shame block the path to recovery

• Why love alone sometimes isn’t enough—and what practical steps can make a difference

• Setting boundaries to protect your mental health

• Finding strength when your child refuses treatment

You don’t have to face this alone. Join our community of parents who understand exactly what you’re going through. Follow me for support, hope, and real talk based on lived experience.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-one-mother-of-an-addict-to-another/id1703883584