Rescuing My Daughter from Addiction

I grew up with addiction as part of my family. When I became a mother, the last thing I wanted was to see that same behaviour passed down to my own children. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened with my daughter. She developed social anxiety and was increasingly using her phone and computer as an escape. To make things worse, she attended school online, so there was no opportunity for her to build face-to-face connections. Screen time was taking up more and more of her time and her life. Her anxiety also manifested in itchiness that caused her to scratch herself until she had raw patches all over her body.

I tried to get her to talk to someone, but she refused.

Discovering Lifeline

Last year, I received an invitation to a Lifeline workshop on screen-addiction. Its theme spoke directly to me. I was so impressed by the content that I reached out to the counsellor, Bill, who gave me advice on how to approach my daughter. Surprisingly, she agreed to meet Bill for a session.

Somehow, Bill was able to get through to her. The change in my daughter has been remarkable. Thanks to her sessions with Bill, she now stands taller. She talks more. Her confidence has increased. She doesn’t want to miss a meeting with him!

Breaking the cycle

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter surprised me by saying, “Mom, I think I’m getting old!” I asked why. “Online games are getting boring… I don’t feel like being online as much anymore. I think I’m growing up”.

Even the scratching has improved. The ‘itchiness’ she felt still comes up, but she’s able to catch herself and stop. She’s developing self-control.

Having my daughter in a positive environment has made a world of difference. It feels like her life is back on track. Lifeline has been a Godsend for my daughter, and for myself. Thanks to the Lifeline’s compassionate help, my family’s cycle of addiction has finally been broken!

And the best part – it was free! Once my daughter asked for help, we were able to access Lifeline’s services immediately, at no cost! Not just for my daughter, but for me too.

I was able to join a parent group that helped me heal my own childhood traumas. As I became more aware and more forgiving of my past, I became a stronger mother, which made my daughter stronger as well. I can now see more clearly how the past influences the present. With my past healed, my daughter and I can now move forward as a unit.

Thank you, Lifeline!