I know you probably hear a lot about self-love, but loving yourself and taking good care of yourself is especially important when you are a parent or caregiver struggling with a teen or adult child with mental illness and addiction.
Why –
Self-love allows you to live with an open heart and connect to your child’s heart
The basis for your relationship with yourself and with others, including your child, is love and in order to give love to others and allow love into your heart, you need to have self-love which will allow you to have an open heart
In order to be a caregiver for your child, you need to take good care of yourself
Here are some suggestions for practicing self-love –
Self-compassion – be gentle, kind and patient with yourself, realize your limitations, and don’t blame yourself for not being able to fix your child’s illness
Forgiveness of yourself and your child allows you to prioritize your relationship and your own healing and well-being
Setting boundaries with love to protect your emotional well-being and allow you to trust yourself to be prepared to handle challenges
Staying true to your authentic self
Honoring your needs and not neglecting them
Good self-care – taking care of you on a physical, emotional, spiritual, energy level
Action step – make a list of how you can honor your needs during challenging times. Feel free to share here 
Sending love and light,
Debbie
