Cleaning up the Damage of Addiction

I can understand your concern for your children's future. You reaching out to find what can be done to help your children is definitely a big first step on your road to recovery and one hopefully your children can appreciate when they get older. For now, the best thing you can do for them, and more importantly for yourself is to gather all the resources you have to help you stay clean and sober. You mentioned undoing the damage that was done. As someone on the road to recovery you know you can not undo the damage. I recognize it's painful to see the damage you may have caused and how it effects the one's you love. However, you know for yourself if you were able to undo the damage that you have caused or the damage others have caused you then your greater self would never have been be discovered (the person who you now can learn to be and love to be). Simply put, the damage was done. That being said, it can be so helpful for your children to work through the damage whether it be emotional, physical, financial, or other. I would strongly suggest therapy as a safe space for them to begin to open up and talk about their concerns and inner feelings. Play therapy is a type of therapy used for younger children and can be very effective. If they have gone through a lot as you put it, therapy will help them address it and work through it. I hope this is helpful and please don't hesitate to call if you have any further questions.

Have a wonderful and meaningful day!

Isaac Sochaczewski, LMHC