Those who have loved ones with addictions can understand that substance abuse affects more than just the individual. Addiction is a disease that takes over a person’s life and affects not only their well-being but also the well-being of their friends and families. From strained relationships to toxic family systems, one family member’s drug or alcohol problem can wreak havoc on everyone who’s involved in their life.
How Addiction Affects Family
Our family program at Clearbrook Pennsylvania and Clearbrook Massachusetts offers support for families of addicts so they can cope with the effects their loved one’s substance abuse had on them. This program is designed to help families understand addiction, heal from the impact it has had on their lives, and learn how to support their loved ones in recovery.
Some major effects of addiction on family include:
- Lack of trust
- Stealing and lying
- Secretive behavior
- Enabling behaviors
- Codependency
- Reckless behavior within the home
- Financial hardships
- Parental anxiety and grief
- Breakups, separation, and/or divorce
In a home affected by addiction, conflict becomes normal as family members fight to engage with the individual who’s abusing drugs or alcohol. Trust begins to erode, and relatives become more guarded if a relative abusing substances acts with aggression or becomes secretive. Communication becomes difficult, marriages can end, and families can essentially break up. This highlights the undeniable fact that addiction is a family disease, leaving some impact on all who care for the person at the center. For these reasons, we believe it’s important to provide individualized and group support for families and addicts.
Family Roles in Addiction
The family dynamics of addiction will have a significant impact on how the unit as a whole handles the disease. The entire family structure may be severely impacted when one family member battles addiction. Families living with addiction tend to take on several common roles, each of which contributes to the overall health of the family.
- The Enabler/Caretaker: This person often covers up the addict’s problems and makes excuses for their behavior to keep the rest of the family happy.
- The Scapegoat: This person is also referred to as the “problem child.” This individual provokes negative attention through acts of defiance or hostility toward other members to distract from the addict’s behavior.
- The Hero: Similar to the caretaker, the hero devotes their time to covering up the addict’s mistakes to maintain the appearance of normalcy. The hero will do whatever they can to restore the dysfunctional family unit behind closed doors. This individual is typically portrayed as over-responsible, self-sufficient, and a perfectionist.
- The Mascot: The mascot is known as the comedian of the group. They try to lessen the stress caused by the addict with humor or silliness. Otherwise, they feel powerless about the individual’s addiction and aim to prevent any family unpleasantness through their antics.
- The Lost Child: This is usually the quiet member of the family who flies under the radar while everyone else plays their roles. The lost child stays out of the way and eventually avoids interacting with the family entirely.
What Is the Goal of Family Therapy?
Common goals of family therapy include enhancing communication, resolving conflicts within the family, recognizing and managing unique family circumstances, and fostering a more functional home. Furthermore, it also entails:
- Investigating the family’s dynamics and its relationship to psychopathology
- Utilizing the family’s practical resources and inner strength
- Reorganizing the unhealthy interactional family structures (including through better communication)
- Enhancing the family’s ability to solve problems.
It is important to the addiction recovery process that everyone involved in the addict’s life is dedicated and supportive of each other.
Importance of Help for Families of Addicts
At our inpatient drug rehab, we recognize that family drug and alcohol counseling is essential to help both addicts and their loved ones heal. Family members often harbor feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and mistrust resulting from their loved one’s addiction, which can lead to poor mental health and strained relationships. If left unaddressed, these emotions can intensify and contribute to further rifts within the family unit.
Unresolved conflict and tension between addicts and their loved ones can create a toxic home environment and lead to unhealthy or broken relationships, increasing the risk of relapse. Support for families of addicts is crucial for moving forward together. A strong support system is one of the biggest factors in achieving long-term sobriety. When individuals in recovery lack the love and support from their families, it can be heartbreaking and discouraging, hindering their progress. Our family therapy for addiction educates loved ones about addiction and provides them with the tools to support their loved one's journey to recovery, helping to rebuild and strengthen family bonds.
Help for Families of Addicts at Clearbrook
While medically monitored detox and residential treatment programs focus on the addict, our family program offers support for families of drug users. This program enhances the addict's recovery while promoting healing within the family. By offering counseling for family members of drug addicts in a safe environment, we can prevent hurtful discussions and similar dramas from getting in the way of recovery.
At Clearbrook Treatment Centers, we provide family therapy as part of our comprehensive addiction treatment to support the healing of both individuals and their loved ones. Our family program includes individual therapy sessions with licensed therapists, allowing families to voice their concerns privately, as well as weekly online family support groups where they can work on themselves and learn how to best support their loved one. This program, along with several other therapy options, ensures that our patients receive the necessary support for a lifetime of sobriety.
Finding Support for Loved Ones of Addicts
Families of addicts are encouraged to take advantage of the Clearbrook Family Program during a loved one’s stay at our residential rehab centers. Patients will greatly benefit from proper support and accountability from their loved ones. Once treatment is completed, the recovering individual will transition back into everyday life with the support and resources needed for a successful recovery journey.
Let us help you reconnect with family after addiction and build a strong support system. For further information about our substance abuse treatment or residential mental health care, contact Clearbrook Treatment Centers or call us at (800) 582-6241 today.
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Related Reading:
- Why a Family Program for Addiction Is Important
- Know Your Role: Where You Fit in an Addicted Family System