Help! My son who has had active addiction since age 17 just went through treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma. Since finishing chemo he has been gone seeing friends/acquaintances and I feel certain using (thc/kratom/alcohol)- his older brother smoked weed with him when he was with him and I am sure it induced psychosis and he became convinced he was relapsing. He rarely answers phone and responds by text sporadically. I feel so terrified and helpless
24 yo post cancer treatment son who doesn’t admit there is an issue
Jacqui
#2
Hi @Nikki. How are you and your son doing today?
I can hear how concerned you are right now, and any parent in your shoes would feel the same. You have been in crisis mode for so long, and when our kids disappear and go quiet, the fear fills in all the blanks.
One thing that might help shift things a bit is remembering that your influence is strongest when the connection is calm and open , rather than trying to fix the situation in the moment.
Even a small change, like sending one short, warm text every few days, can keep the door open without adding pressure. Something like, “Thinking of you today. Hope you are taking care of yourself. I’m here when you want to talk.” It sounds simple, but consistency and kindness in your tone can make a bigger impact than it seems.
And for you, a powerful next step could be asking yourself, “What helps me feel steady right now, even if nothing changes with him today?” You deserve some grounding too, and the steadier you feel, the more helpful you can be when he is ready to reconnect.
You are not helpless. You are already doing one of the hardest things: caring deeply and trying to stay connected. We are here with you. 