What Is the Role of Family in Addiction Recovery?
Watching a child, parent, friend, or spouse go through addiction isn’t easy. When they enter into treatment, you may feel a weight lifted off your shoulders because they are finally getting the care they need. Yet, even in those moments, you may not be sure what your role is in the process of recovery. You cannot control their actions, and you should not feel as if their recovery is dependent on what you do or do not do.
What are your responsibilities in addiction recovery as the family member? What can you do?
At America’s Rehab Campuses, we make it our goal to provide you with a wide range of tools to engage in treatment for your loved one as much as or as little as is necessary. Our team wants to ensure that you get the level of support you need, too. Addiction does not just impact your loved one, but it plays a role in the well-being of everyone in the home and family unit. If you are struggling now with addiction of a loved one, call our treatment center for fast, reliable help.
Know You Have the Right to Step Back
One of the things that is important in addiction recovery is coming to terms with what’s occurred, and the damage addiction creates. Sometimes it takes a long time for family members to be ready to work on improving the situation. Other times, you, as a mother, father, or friend, may not want to be involved any longer. That is especially true in situations where you were abused in any way. Know that you can step away and that it is completely okay to do that.
Engage in Therapy with Your Loved One
Most of the time, drug and alcohol treatment involves family therapy. This is a time for family members close to the individual to come into treatment to start working on their relationship difficulties and their overall needs. During therapy, a wide range of things can happen. Here are some examples.
Discuss the disease itself
One of the first things you will do is learn about addiction and what’s occurred. It is helpful for you to understand what is happening within the brain and body so that you can support your loved one properly. Education is a big part of any treatment for addiction.
Work through past pain
Many people struggle with addiction so much that they lash out at loved ones. They may even be aggressive or harsh with the statements they are facing. Sometimes, they are simply no longer trustworthy. During therapy, a part of what you will do is talk about these types of experiences. You will want to be clear about what they did and why that hurt you. Honesty is critical here.
Your loved one may also have things to discuss, such as past trauma or pain that they have that may have put them on the path to using. You may also need to discuss what’s occurred within your lives that could have created obstacles to successful relationships. Hashing out all of the “bad” stuff helps to open the door for what’s next.
Determine what happens with the relationship
During therapy, you will also learn that there are numerous ways for you to work through this relationship. Sometimes it is best for people to split ways and not engage. Other times, both parties may need time and healing. During therapy, you’ll have the ability to safely discuss the way you feel and what you need to do to move forward with your life.
Learn how to respond to risks
During treatment, close family members also learn how to spot symptoms that may indicate a person is at risk for relapse. You may learn how to help them to manage the most common triggers they have, such as the onset of stress that’s uncontrolled. You’ll learn not just what to watch for but also what to do if you see them.
It is not your responsibility to get them into treatment if they are at risk. However, it may be helpful for you to point out what you’re seeing so that steps can be taken. The goal is to steer them back to treatment or immediate help through a mentor in emergent situations.
How to Get Help for Your Loved One
If your loved one is struggling with drug addiction right now, it is time to consider the treatment options available to them. Reach out to America’s Rehab Campuses. Talk to us about what’s happening, and let us provide you with insight into the treatment options available to you. In addition our specialist can inform you on insurances we accept including United Health Care. You cannot force them to get treatment, but you can give them the information they need to make this life-changing decision for themselves.
