A person’s family are often an incredible support network throughout somebody’s life and they can be invaluable during a time of addiction. They may even be the ones to highlight the problem to somebody living with addiction and help them on their journey to recovery.
When talking about family, we don’t necessarily just mean somebody’s partner, parents and siblings. We mean their extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as their chosen family too – the people who may not be biologically related but are as close as family.
There are many ways a family can support the addiction recovery progress, from recognising addiction to challenging behaviours and undertaking shared therapy sessions.
If you suspect somebody in your family has a problem with addiction, it’s good to do a little research on how addiction affects a person and what support is available. This will help you identify if there is a problem and how you may want to approach it with your family member. You may like to understand:
People living with addictions don’t always see the danger of their behaviours, or how far into addiction they have wandered; it often takes somebody else to talk to them about what they’re doing and how it’s affecting them and others. This is not an easy conversation to have, for either person, but putting this conversation off just gives the problem time to get worse.
Having a family member express concern can emphasise the seriousness of the situation from a place of support and love, and can help the person admit there is a problem.
Knowing that their family is involved and supportive can make a huge difference in a patient’s recovery journey. Knowing they have people who love them and understand their struggles are great motivators to succeed, rather than thinking they’re going through it all alone. Knowing that other people care about them helps the patient to care about themselves and their rehabilitation.
This doesn’t mean the road will be plain sailing, as addiction changes the brain’s chemistry so that the person prioritises drug use above all else and this can cause a person undergoing rehab to push away the people who are trying to help. As a family member of somebody recovering from addiction, you may well be lied to, manipulated, pushed away, used or abused, as your family member may project anger and frustration onto you.
Seeking professional help allows the person with the addiction, and their family, to benefit from the skill and knowledge of trained experts, along what is most usually a bumpy road. It can be a draining experience for all involved, so having someone to guide the way and shoulder the burden can be incredibly helpful.
As well as providing support, the family can be present during therapy sessions. This can help shed a different light on the patient’s triggers or needs for substances, and it can also provide the family with coping mechanisms and the knowledge of what to expect as their loved one progresses through their rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation centres, like ANA Treatment Centres, offer professional help when it comes to the recovery journey. We provide treatment for people with substance issues as well as support for their families. Get in touch today to find out how ANA Treatment Centres can help your family support addiction recovery.
