Brigitte Nielsen on Getting Help for Addiction
Submitted by Editor
I was suffering with a problem with alcohol and I tried to hide it, but my kids knew it all along. I would always think, "This week, I can stop. I can stop. I'll just have some wine." But you can't stop. When you have an addiction, you need professional help.
I believe there are a lot of mothers who try to hide their problems with pills or alcohol, and they think that they can get away with it. But you can't! The first people to know are your kids and they suffer so much, they just don't know how to say it. They love you and need you because you're their mom, but you can't be the best mom you can be if you're an addict.
I think in your relationship with your child, you should always try to be as open as you possibly can ... about alcohol or sex or how they feel. Communication is very important. If you talk to your kids about your addiction, they will have unconditional love for you. Kids have the ability to forgive you when they see that you're trying. They don't look down on you. And it's good for them to see that you're not so perfect. It will help them as they grow up to know that you made mistakes, too. Since I've been in recovery, I have even more love and respect for my kids now than ever before. They have been so good to me and they've kept me strong. After I came back from rehab, they said to me, "Mom we always loved you and now it's even better!" They are really troopers.
I don't know that I ever would have talked to my kids about alcohol and drugs if I hadn't gotten help myself. But when I did, it opened the door for me. I knew that if I didn't put the cards on the table at that moment, I was gonna lose everything!
I would tell parent who has an addiction to go get help immediately! You can lie and hide, but your kids know what's going on and they're the ones who suffer the most. It's gonna make your kids so proud and happy that you took care of yourself and got better. The minute you open up, it gets so easy. And it's your responsibility as a parent to get help.
Besides being a mom, Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish actress best known for her roles in films like Rocky IV and her appearances on the reality TV shows Flavor of Love and Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.
I think in your relationship with your child, you should always try to be as open as you possibly can ... about alcohol or sex or how they feel. Communication is very important. If you talk to your kids about your addiction, they will have unconditional love for you. Kids have the ability to forgive you when they see that you're trying. They don't look down on you. And it's good for them to see that you're not so perfect. It will help them as they grow up to know that you made mistakes, too. Since I've been in recovery, I have even more love and respect for my kids now than ever before. They have been so good to me and they've kept me strong. After I came back from rehab, they said to me, "Mom we always loved you and now it's even better!" They are really troopers.
I don't know that I ever would have talked to my kids about alcohol and drugs if I hadn't gotten help myself. But when I did, it opened the door for me. I knew that if I didn't put the cards on the table at that moment, I was gonna lose everything!
I would tell parent who has an addiction to go get help immediately! You can lie and hide, but your kids know what's going on and they're the ones who suffer the most. It's gonna make your kids so proud and happy that you took care of yourself and got better. The minute you open up, it gets so easy. And it's your responsibility as a parent to get help.
Besides being a mom, Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish actress best known for her roles in films like Rocky IV and her appearances on the reality TV shows Flavor of Love and Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.
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