Quote of the Week


"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.



Have a Story to Share?
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, June 19, 2014

We invite you to share your story with us - using, of course, "pen names" to maintain your family's anonymity. Knowing that we share many of the same experiences, heartaches and joys can be very helpful to others in the same situation.  How are you coping with your child's addiction?  What do you need help with?  Let's support each other!

Send your story to gopsst@gmail.com.


Read More......

Happy Father's Day!
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, June 12, 2014

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. 

~ Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi", Atlantic Monthly, 1874




Dad     © Karen K. Boyer


He never looks for praises
He's never one to boast
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most
His dreams are seldom spoken
His wants are very few
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken too
He's there.... A firm foundation
Through all our storms of life
A sturdy hand to hold to
In times of stress and strife
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.


Read More......

5 Love Languages for Teenagers
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, June 04, 2014

At a recent PSST meeting, someone mentioned the 5 Love Languages, as presented in the book by Gary Chapman: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch.  You may be aware that the 5 languages pertain to the relationship between husbands and wives, but you may not know that these same languages are relevant to your relationship with your child as well.

It’s easy to tell when a teenager wants to be loved. Getting the message across is another matter entirely. In addition to the obvious generation gap, many parents and children face a sort of language barrier as well. The 5 Love languages of Teenagers is an invaluable tool for analyzing a teen’s love language and expressing your affections in an effective way. The search for love in a teenager’s life can lead to disastrous results. But if you can speak the right language, the difference can seem miraculous.
If you go to the website http://www.5lovelanguages.com/, look under the words Discover your Love Language, where you will see the words Click Here to Begin.  You and your spouse can choose to do the profile for yourselves, but you can also choose to do it for “My Child”.  In either case, the assessment will score your rankings of the 5 Love Languages.  You will see the following if you choose to do the assessment for your child:   

The Love Language Profile for Teenagers is designed to give you a thorough analysis of your teenager’s emotional communication preference. It will single out their primary love language, what it means, and how you can use it to better understand them during this stage of their life. Invite them to take the assessment and share their results with you. Not only will you show them that you care, but that you are also striving to be a better parent.
You may want to first take the profile yourself, selecting the statements you believe most accurately describe your teen. Then once they have also taken the assessment, compare your results with theirs. This can make for a lively and constructive conversation.

Read More......

Happy Memorial Day!
Posted by:Jenn--Friday, May 23, 2014


Read More......

Emerging Drug Trends
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, May 21, 2014

What do gravel, puppy chow, lemon drop, spice, molly, purple drank, and bromo dragonfly all have in common?

Their innocuous names are in direct contrast to their possible side effects.  Yes, they can make their users feel happy, excitable, perhaps even euphoric.  Yet they can also lead to hallucinations, paranoia, seizures, convulsions, aggressive behavior, emergency room visits, even death.   

These drugs are all part of the emerging drug scene.  According to the Regional Organized Crime Information Center:

New drugs are emerging at an unprecedented rate as manufacturers of “legal high” products use new chemicals to replace those that are banned. These new chemicals take the place of heroin, morphine, and amphetamines. These drugs are highly accessible, touted as legal, and perceived as safe.  However, despite the popularity in designer drugs and legal high products, the abuse of heroin and prescription painkiller medication is still trending throughout the country. 

If you want to increase your awareness about these drugs, click here for more information about emerging drug trends and the dangers they pose to our children and our communities.


Read More......

Shatterproof Challenge
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, May 12, 2014

Our own Adventurous Abby is going to rappel from the side of the Westin at Liberty Center in Pittsburgh on June 25th.  Abby is looking forward to this as a thrilling opportunity (most of us would consider it to be terrifying!) to participate in the nationwide Shatterproof Challenge.  The Challenge will raise awareness and funds for Shatterproof, a 501(c) organization devoted to ending the stigma of addiction; providing families with critical information and support; bringing evidence-based approaches to bear on prevention, treatment and recovery; and changing public policy.  Shatterproof has an impressive list of board advisors & partner organizations (including the Clinton Foundation, Marriott International, and the National Hockey League).  

If you are interested in helping Abby to raise funds for this organization, go to her personal Shatterproof webpage at https://secure.shatterproof.org/page/outreach/view/pittsburgh-2014-shatterproof-challenge/Allegheny. 
  

Read More......

Happy Mother's Day
Posted by:Jenn--Saturday, May 10, 2014



In whatever way you can, no matter how difficult your family's situation may be right now, try to find a way to celebrate your love of life and of your family!!  (You owe it to yourself.)


Read More......

Why Mothers Cry
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, May 05, 2014


"Why are you crying?" he asked his Mom.
"Because I am a mother," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said.
His Mom hugged him and said, "You never will."

Later, the little boy asked his father
why mother cried for no reason.
"All mothers cry for no reason"
was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man
still wondering why mothers cry.
So he finally asked God,
"God, why do mothers cry so easily?"

 God said, "You see son, 
when I made mothers, they had to be special.
I made their shoulders strong enough
to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave them an inner strength to
endure childbirth and the rejection
that many times comes from their children.
I gave them a hardiness that allows
them to keep going on when everyone else gives up,
and to take care of their families through sickness
and fatigue without complaining.
I gave them the sensitivity to love their
children under all circumstances,
even when their child has hurt them very badly.
This same sensitivity helps them to
make a child's boo-boo feel better,
and helps them share a teenager's anxieties and fears.

I gave them a tear to shed,
It's theirs exclusively to use whenever it is needed.
It is their only weakness.

It is a tear for mankind."


Author Unknown 

Read More......

Adding to your Toolbox
Posted by:Jenn--Sunday, April 27, 2014

One of our PSST dads shared the following at a recent PSST meeting:

Over the years, most men accumulate a lot of tools in their toolboxes.  It seems like you can never have too many tools for doing work around the house.  Before PSST, I had only one tool in my toolbox for dealing with my child’s addiction.  It was a hammer.  I used that hammer for everything.  With PSST, I now have many tools in my toolbox, and I am better-prepared to deal with the challenges that life sends my way.

Add to your toolbox – come to a PSST meeting to share and learn, or read some of the role-plays or articles on this blog.  Help to save your child’s life, and perhaps save your own life in the process!

Read More......

Presentations on Addiction Prevention & Treatment - Tuesday, April 29
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Power of Intention, Wisdom & Hope

You are invited to attend an evening of presentations, specifically designed to educate and support parents (and other family members) who are dealing with the challenges of adolescent drug and alcohol abuse.  Sponsored by the Pittsburgh-based Little Wings of Hope charitable organization, this event features speakers from Caron Treatment Centers, Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Little Wings of Hope Foundation, and Parent Survival Skills Training (PSST).  Topics include: Recognizing the Face of Addiction, Signs & Symptoms, Prevention, Tips for Parents, and Treatment Options.

Lloyd Woodward and our 2013 PSST Parents of the Year (“Jim & Cheryl”) are among the presenters at this event!  

Date:  Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Time:  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location:  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Hall, 330 3rd Avenue, Carnegie, PA
Notes:  Parking is available, and light refreshments will be provided.

If you plan to attend, click here to go to the Little Wings of Hope website, where you will find the Registration Link. 

Read More......

Lives in the Balance
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, April 14, 2014

The FDA recently approved a new opioid pain medication called Zohydro ER, which is intended for patients dealing with chronic pain.  It is the first prescription narcotic that provides a pure dose of hydrocodone.  Already there is controversy surrounding this new medication, given its potential for abuse. For an article from Forbes.com about this topic, click hereBelow are 2 quotes from the article that highlight some of the major issues fueling the controversy.

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is fighting the FDA’s approval of this new drug, states:
“The prescription drug epidemic has already damaged and destroyed the lives of far too many individuals and families, and hydrocodone is one of the most abused substances out there. The last thing we need is a drug on the market with 10 times the hydrocodone of Vicodin and Lortab, with the capability of killing an individual in just two tablets.”


Dr. Ethan Weiner shares an opposing opinion, saying:
“Although these drugs have significant abuse potential, that does not negate the fact that there are significant numbers of people suffering chronic pain who cannot live a functional – or even a remotely tolerable – life without them.

Read More......

Starting Over, One More Time
Posted by:Jenn--Friday, April 04, 2014

As a short recap, Dylan was released home in January from a placement (his fifth), soon after his successful graduation from high school.  At home, he began to struggle.  He was hanging around with friends he shouldn’t have been seeing, ending up at places different from his agreed-upon destinations, sneaking alcohol, becoming verbally combative with his parents, and otherwise having difficulty dealing with his newfound “freedom”.  Within 5 weeks, he found himself back in court.

At court, Dylan was offered the opportunity to come home, but instead he requested a halfway house.  Maybe he knew that he would not be successful at home.  After working with Dylan for the past 3 years, the judge seems to have a pretty good handle on what’s right for Dylan, and she ordered him to be placed at “Halfway House”.   



Dylan has been at Halfway House for 6 weeks now.  We think of it as supervised independent living.  He is doing his own laundry, keeping his room neat (what a concept!), and helping with the cooking.  He got a job right away at a fast food restaurant.  He was worried that he wouldn’t like it (i.e., that it would be “uncool”), but instead he finds that he is happy to be working, enjoying the people interactions, and excited about the prospect of earning & saving money.  He enjoys his coworkers, and even says that almost all the customers are really nice.
 
His therapist at Halfway House is fantastic, and the therapeutic environment seems to be stronger than at his other placements.  Intervention seems to focus on more than just correcting the immediate behavior problem, but also on discovering the underlying issues behind the behavior, and tackling those issues head-on.  For a teen who normally can barely sit still, it’s amazing to learn that Dylan is now using meditation and writing to deal with his anger/resentment issues.  He also found an NA sponsor that he seems to be happy with, and he’s attending a local church on Sundays.  Naturally, his irritation with authority and difficulty in abiding by rules has not disappeared, but he seems to be handling himself better.
 
Usually when Dylan starts at a new program, he is angry & uncommunicative with his parents, but not this time.  He has been calling us regularly, and we have visited him quite a few times.  He doesn’t think he wants any home passes, but he is interested in having offsite passes to play soccer for the local travel team, where we will watch and cheer on the team.  That’s good enough for now.

Much as we’d prefer that Dylan live at home, that option is only truly possible in some alternate universe.  It’s not what will work for him right now.  Dylan will be 18 years old in another month, and we realize that he may never live at home again.  Attending PSST meetings, where we have learned so much from the experts as well as other parents, has helped us to accept that reality.  We are so grateful for the progress that Dylan has been making towards becoming independent, responsible, and free of drugs/alcohol.  He has had a lot of crucial help and guidance along the way.

Brad & Jenn      

Read More......

Finding your own Path
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Click here and here to read the story of a father’s struggle to deal with his son’s heroin addiction.  Below are two quotes from David Cooke’s story.

When it comes to addiction there are two victims, the addict who battles with their disease and the families who struggle to understand, cope, and live a normal life.  Many parents commit every ounce of love, time, energy in their quest to save, help, and cure their child to the point where they often have so little left to give themselves or to the point where it nearly destroys them.  It is as if the addiction has taken control over two sets of lives.

I learned how to build boundaries around [my son’s] addiction and define a path for me that helped me live, celebrate, and enjoy my live.  Though I may never be a complete peace with the threat, pain, and loss of his addiction all around me, I have learned that his choices do not define me, his decisions cannot stop me, and his addiction will not destroy me. 
  

Read More......

Bridging the Communication Gap with your Teen
Posted by:Jenn--Saturday, March 22, 2014

Thanks to Mary Canary for sharing this article about talking with your teenager.


Psychologist and author Dr. James Dobson tells parents that the teenage years can be filled with uncomfortable silences. He writes, “the same kid who used to talk a mile a minute and ask a million questions has now reduced his vocabulary to nine monosyllabic phrases- "I dunno," "Maybe," "I forget," "Huh?" "No!" "Nope," "Yeah," "Who--me?" and "He did it." Giving teens non-threatening opportunities to talk is the key to conversation.

Read the rest of this article by clicking here.


Read More......

Credits

This layout (edited by Ken) made by and copyright cmbs.