Importance of Family Support for Addiction

Addiction can be filled with so many dark and lonely days that people will feel like there is no way out of the cycle. However, the impact of drug or alcohol abuse does not end at the individual but spreads to their relationships and loved ones.

Although addiction treatment can teach individuals how to overcome this disease, having a dedicated support system to lean on during tough times will help you stay on track and focused on the end goal of sobriety. Below is more on the importance of family support for addiction recovery and how our Christian drug rehab can aid in your sobriety. 

The Effects of Addiction on Family   

Addiction is a pervasive disease that expands to all people who love an individual with a drug or alcohol problem. Substance abuse is often potent enough to damage relationships, erode trust, and weaken communication. Family members with loved ones battling addiction often endure a host of sleepless nights, unsettling phone calls, and painful emotions.  

Equally frustrating is the hopelessness and helplessness that loved ones often feel as their loved one denies any efforts of support or help. Family members may feel at a loss when witnessing their loved one’s struggle with drugs or alcohol. For this reason, enabling is a major problem among families affected by addiction.  

Enabling refers to actions that allow destructive behavior to continue or inadvertently encourage these behaviors. For instance, a member of the family may give the addict money when they are short on rent despite knowing they will use the money to buy drugs or alcohol. While people often enable with good intentions and because they love the person, doing so can be more damaging to their recovery and prevent it.  

Additionally, some common effects of addiction on families to note may include the following: 

• Emotional hardship 
• Distrust 
• Broken relationships 
• Financial hardship 
• Division among family members  
• Divorce or separation 

Overall, one family member’s substance abuse can deteriorate the family’s dynamic, forcing the creation of certain roles as a coping mechanism for the unit. These family roles include the savior or hero, the mascot, the lost child, the scapegoat, and the enabler/caregiver. This creates further division, tension, and hardship, making it much more difficult for the family to cope and for the individual to get the help they need. [Text Wrapping Break] 

Importance of Family Support for Drug Addiction  

Although addiction can strongly impact any family, family members can also adopt healthy roles and behaviors to encourage and support their loved one’s recovery. A strong support system will always be there for you when you experience the inevitable highs and lows during the recovery process. It is this group of people who you should call during rough days.   

Our relationships are what make life so enjoyable and surrounding yourself with people who genuinely want the best for you will help lift your spirits. Just a simple conversation with a friend or family member about your feelings and emotions can be so powerful during addiction recovery, and you will immediately feel relieved. Your loved ones will also be there to keep you in line and check up on you about your progress and recovery goals. 

Family support in addiction recovery may also look like this:  

• Intervening in a crisis 
• Setting firm boundaries to prevent enabling and codependency  
• Finding treatment options and helping the person get into a rehab center 
• Providing valuable information about the individual’s substance abuse and health to professionals to ensure they receive the right kind of care 
• Maintaining health records and providing them to treatment professionals, if necessary 
• Advocating for the individual’s needs and rights 
• Helping the individual stick with their drug or alcohol treatment program and aftercare plans 
• Watching out for any behavioral signs of relapse  

Keep in mind that family support for addiction is not about babysitting the individual or covering up their mistakes. It is about encouraging them to get help and stick with treatment no matter what. As a parent, sibling, or spouse of someone with a drug or alcohol addiction, avoiding enabling behaviors and shutting down codependence can be difficult. Be prepared for things to get worse before they get better.  

Despite any challenges that may present themselves, however, the loved ones of addicts play a crucial role in the individual’s recovery as it reminds them that they are loved no matter what. In fact, studies show that when families take part in treatment and recovery, recovering addicts are:1  

• Less likely to be hospitalized  
• Less likely to relapse  
• Less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system 
• More likely to stick with treatment 
• More likely to recover from the disorder 

What’s more, so much shame and hurt come from substance abuse that any additional backlash from loved ones could further push the individual into drug or alcohol use. If you can ever recall a moment when you really messed up, receiving reassurance from someone else probably absolved a lot of the guilt. Think of this when you think of your loved one and how you can play a role in their recovery journey.  

Help for Family and Addiction Recovery: Getting Help  

Because addiction recovery is just as spiritual as it is physical and mental, our Christian addiction recovery center helps individuals strengthen their relationship with God during treatment, as well as focus on positive relationships in their life. Leaning on your loved ones during addiction treatment will guide you on the right path and help you stay accountable and motivated. 

Combining the spiritual approach to treatment with evidence-based methods can be the perfect match for anyone who suffers from addiction. Our Christ-centered addiction treatment stresses the importance of leaning on loved ones during the treatment process.  

In addition to offering care for the individual, we also offer support for families of addicts so that everyone can learn and grow together. Having people who are there to lift you and help guide you along the journey is inspiring and crucial for success. 

 

Source:  
CAMH - Caring Together: Families As Partners In The Mental Health And Addiction System   

Related Reading: 
Words of Encouragement for Someone in Recovery  
The Best Christian Apps for Addiction Recovery