All in the Family
There are many reasons and ways to involve family in your child's care, which are discussed in other chapters of this book. The focus of this section will be on how to help your family understand and support you and your child's choice to include medication in your child's care plan.
Getting Everyone on the Same Page
As previously mentioned, this issue is especially important in families with joint custody arrangements. It is equally as important in blended families, where there may be two sets of parents to consider and siblings as well. Honesty, education, and opportunities to ask questions and communicate about medications will help in your child's recovery. Make sure those closest to your child, especially if they will be caring for him, know the name, dosage, and reason for any medications your child is taking. This is especially important during any start, change, decrease, or discontinuation of medication so that others can help you watch for any signs of trouble. Do not hesitate to use resources like NIMH (
Involving Siblings
Often, siblings are either a great source of comfort or a great source of distress. With regard to medication, it is probably most important for your child's siblings to be supportive of your choice, and encouraging to your child with anxiety. Remember to keep in mind the age of your child when educating her about her sibling's care, and do not let an older child be responsible for ensuring her sibling takes her medication.
When to Seek Help for Yourself
It sometimes happens that a child's diagnosis with anxiety, depression, or ADHD causes a parent to feel an eerie sense of familiarity and recognize that he may have a condition similar to that of his child, and to consider medications for himself. If this is true for you, you too can discuss this with your child's doctor, your doctor, or the therapist.
Question?
Should I tell my child's doctor about my own anxiety?
It is important to discuss your own anxiety with your child's doctor or therapist. Your child may have a sense of “not being so alone in the world” if she sees that you have struggled, too. As previously mentioned, a family history of anxiety may increase the likelihood your child could need medication. Also, there are many benefits to learning and practicing anxiety management with your child.
Working with Extended Family
Your child's grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins may need to be informed about your child's medications for several reasons. Letting the family at large know that your child's condition is serious enough to warrant medication will help them to understand that your child is not just “going through a phase,” or “being difficult.” Sharing information about your child's condition and care may also help your extended family reflect on potential problems they might have with anxiety, and this could make big changes for the better for everyone.
