How family can support a loved ones recovery process is an often asked question and a very crucial element of sobriety. Family members can play an important role in helping a loved one with mental health and substance use disorders get on the road to addiction recovery. The role of family support networks can help keep individuals engaged in treatment, and committed to their recovery.

Support comes in many shapes and forms. Ask your loved one how you can be the most supportive to them and follow their lead. You may start by learning about substance use disorder and addiction treatment. You can use different strategies to support a loved one's recovery.

With the agreement of the individual you can help developing their treatment plan. This plan details small personal goals specific to the individual, related to physical and mental health, employment, family and relationships. Remember addiction is a disease, but when you actively participate with your loved one through sobriety the have a far lesser chance at relapse.

Tell Me the Role of Family in Addiction Recovery

Substance use is known for affecting family dynamics and weakening communication. Family members with an addict may experience many emotions as they struggle through the years. Equal frustration comes from developing feelings of hopelessness at the hands of a family member who abuses. A family member may experience grief as they are unable to see a loved one struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol. In fact, stumbling on burnt spoons can cause paralyzed feelings of terror and cause concern of death. However, the family member is entitled to help with obtaining professional help, seeking treatment options and maintaining sobriety.

A Guide For Family Members With A Loved One In Recovery: Help Them Recover

Those with substance abuse issues need family in their lives now. A loving family understanding addiction recovery is crucial in these hard times. Families are also going to be on a recovery journey. The addict's parents have most certainly, endured immense difficulties. Most of the time, due to a broken promise or stalemate, trust was lost and must come back. You need to realize trust may take a long period of time to recover. It isn't a quick process and won't get better quickly, but a clear path is to create a plan for addressing substance abuse as well as getting counseling to deal with with family issues.

How Do I Support My Family Member in Substance Abuse Recovery?

It can't be underestimated the difficulty of losing someone with an addiction. Truly, support from family will help bolster the recovery platform of a loved one entering treatment. Often, most support comes from those closest to someone recovering because strong family bonds tend to reinforce the belief that one cannot be alone. A family unit can help individuals and their loved ones cope with difficult situations as they enter a treatment program.

Part One: Helping an Addict Before Treatment

Addiction may also be a family illness because its full impact is on a families. Many people feel frustration with treatment by an addict and how it has affected their family lives. Many parents have had problems with the relationship with their children because of addiction. Most family members have concerns in regards to addiction and early recovery. Next we will address some of those concerns so that you are able to make informed decisions regarding your loved ones.

How Do I Get My Loved One Into Treatment?

Many family members feel that they do not have to take on the responsibility, since the addict is usually not interested in therapy. However, family members should take the steps necessary for the individual who is unable to accept assistance from an expert if the need arises. Many families have excuses to not even confront a loved one unless they confront them. Examples of excuses may include: they need no help, it is possible to quit using at any time, there are no licensed therapists needed for this stage, my loved one would be mad and would take me out of the house, I'm not gonna destroy their reputation, and treating is expensive and insurance may not cover it.

It is important that the addicted individual feel supported. Remind your loved one of the benefits of treatment and how their own actions have impacted the family but do not be angry or talk down to them. Instead you should remind them of happier times, that there is no shame in seeking help, and that when committed, they can heal.

Requiring the Help of an Interventionist

Intervention may vary depending on the person's family dynamics or the past experience with addiction. Some families can talk to interventionist staff or admission personnel and confront their loved ones and convince them to take reassurance. However, when another situation is more complex, a more formal intervention may be required to deal with addiction recovery treatment that was already rejected by a family member. Before addressing addiction, it is critical to establish the necessary foundations, and an interventionist has the knowledge and specializes in addressing this. They know how to speak to someone with an active addiction, as many are recovering addicts themselves.

Supporting the Person, Not the Addict

Families need to offer support and encouragement even if someone is not accepting help. When a loved one doesn't feel able to get help emotionally or mentally, it can cause emotional distress, anxiety or depression . It doesn't mean we need to end all our lives, however, family members may need to do more to reach the addict.

Some addiction-related problems are attributed to their ability to elicit a person's support. Family members who give excuses, take slack, and financially support the addict, contribute to the problem. Often times family members are enabling the addicted individual and need to practice tough love and set boundaries as they are also accountable.

Confronting the Addict

If the intervening family believes that their needs have not been addressed, they will arrange to have it resolved. It must be done at a non-threatening place in which the addict is sober and able to discuss the problem productively. In the intervention the loved ones must remain positive, supportive and caring, but address the fact that addiction impacts the lives of everyone. There should be control over emotional expressions and feelings so that civil conversations are possible. The first step is the individual admitting that they have a problem and are willing to seek help however painful that may be.

Part Two: How Family Can Help During Treatment

If a person gets addicted to alcohol or drugs, everyone else in the family suffers, including their friends and family. In addition family and close friends of an addicted individual is required to watch their loved one deteriorating and to worry about their health as well. Substances such as drugs and alcohol often lead to anger, violence, selfishness, inconsistent, demanding, and moody people, impacting a close relationship they once had. Families struggling with addiction are often battling strains of relationships and family dysfunction, even when parents try their best to communicate with the addict. In relationships where there has been a conflict in the past, it is common for people to have a mental inability to cope in their own way.

Family Therapy for Long-Term Success

Family Therapy can be a good solution to the needs of the individual or families affected during the recovery process. This program will help the household and restore a strong relationship and promote staying sober by keeping things moving in the right direction. Emotional health is important for everyone to work to overcome past conflicts, receive and express forgiveness, develop positive communication skills and improve relationships. During family therapy, a loved one learns about addiction and develops effective methods of handling the addiction without causing a negative reaction. Just in the same way addiction takes time to heal, relationships need healing too.

Families Also Need Help

Family therapy also assists in identifying a person's needs and how to address them. It can often be difficult to overcome addiction without addressing the conflict of interest with an addicted loved one. To remain in sober condition one must resolve his or her previous troubles. Family and friend disputes are often caused by a past fault and when this happens the household has to understand this and learn the best way to fix that issue. Some families have other problems that cannot be resolved with one treatment session.

Families Contribute to Recovery

Ongoing support helps addicts overcome addiction by enabling their own well being. Family involvement in therapy strengthens home structures and allows the individual to fully recover. Engagement in therapy can encourage healthy habits, since a loved person is a major source of support to a person in treatment. This means that family members also receive treatment to resolve the problem and thus repair relations during addiction recovery and reduce the risk of relapse.

Learning About Addiction and Communication

Addiction rehabs can be difficult for a person to navigate and many have fear, this is normal. Therapy assists a family member in understanding addictions and how their actions affect this person. It is important to have family members participate in therapy together to create awareness about overcoming addiction. The role family members play is a lifelong process and even more important when an addict is in need of support during and after a rehab visit or needs relapse treatment.

Part Three: How Family Can Help After Treatment

When they return home from addiction treatment help your loved one focus on their recovery journey, remember this is a family disease. Family members who receive medical treatment often have to be re-energized before going home from treatment facilities. Obviously, after a treatment facility, work is still needed and friends are able to provide important help to their loved ones to get back into the real world, stay sober and to prevent or detect any signs of relapse . Loved ones are required to learn more about addiction,know what to expect when family members return home, give hope and make it safe environment. Encourage them to take part in support group meetings as part of their journey, and remind them not to feel shame or anxiety.

Educate Yourself on Addiction

Your friend or loved one may relapse anytime during the recovery period. It's important to learn to cope with an addictive condition and learn how to deal with it. This helps prevent symptoms from appearing. If you feel any indication that a relapse is imminent, then act immediately by contacting a treatment provider.

Support Group Participation

The best ways to prevent relapse, especially during early stages of your loved one's recovery, are to get involved with a support network or peer mentorship program, which parents are required to encourage. Using support groups, including alcoholic groups or Narcotics Anonymous church-run support groups and alternative 12-step groups, newly sober people can gain motivation and support from other people in recovery.

Family members can help a recovering addict by: inviting them to support groups, allowing them to meet other sober people or keep a good connection to support groups for alcohol addiction. Some people just require reminders to go to meetings but sometimes they need encouragement or may need rides. attend meetings with them.

Making Home a Haven for Sobriety

If family members have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, then it's likely that the substance will be available. A major role to support recovery is making the home a great place to live. Upon sobriety a person must practice abstinence from drinking and drug use in their home, drugs and other items like paraphernalia should be banned. Family members can assist in cleaning up any drug and apparel items while they are in a treatment center. This helps eliminate unwanted triggers and helps reduce cravings. Family members are also able to support the individual to resume normal lives by helping reduce conflicts first, supporting healthy conversation, and knowing signs of risk behavior.

It is important to encourage sobriety and a comfortable environment for the family to live. Also, you need to keep your recovering persons from consuming alcohol or other substances when your loved one begins to recover. Avoid inviting a friend or neighbor to an event serving liquor or arrange and make preparations in advance. The most important thing in life is to get people to participate soberly and not get tempted by indulgences.

Alcoholic beverages should obviously not be kept in the home and should not be offered to them.

Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention may be a key aspect that family members should focus on after substance abuse treatment. The goal is minimizing the triggers, dealing with the stress and building a positive relation to one another during the treatment. People suffering from alcohol or substance abuse need the assurance that their loved ones will remain vigilant. They should be prepared to seek employment immediately to help stay busy and get their lives back on track. During their job interviews, the recovering person must feel confident in their relationships with family and friends if possible.

Lovers usually bear the weight of recovery from substance abuse illness the most. If someone relapses, they often feel it must be something of a family fault. It is not helpful to set aside your own needs and individual therapy is helpful sometimes in maintaining your mental health. Taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of loved ones. If you feel overwhelmed by all that is going on, seek counseling and contact a therapist.

What Should I Expect When My Family Member Comes Home?

Families wishing for things to go smoothly after rehab in a treatment center will be misled. Many days, and even months after inpatient treatment can been filled with fear, stress or uncertainty, but with the help of a treatment team and rehabilitation prevention plan, the families prepare for their recovery and help them to get back to their sobriety.

Family members who are involved in recovering from addiction are urged to act differently. When someone was using, their personality changed and they were quieter, less sociable and withdrawn. Now they will have more motivation and conversation may be something they actively seek and can benefit from. It is also crucial that they manage stress and attend meetings and other outpatient services in this stage.

Part Four: Loved Ones May Not Want Help

Addiction is an awful disease, at times it can be very difficult to reach a person who refuses to get confidential help for an addiction. One of the most frustrating experiences for parents is when their loved one's drug addiction does not allow for it. They're not seeking treatment, they're not talking about drug addiction, they'll not take a medication. Often families struggle with their loved ones sinking deeper into addiction. There are however things you may do to help change this behavior.

Don't Enable the Addict

In some cases addicts do not want to be helped even though they have spoken to friends or relatives. Regardless, a couple of things can be done for them. Firstly, parents and children should be closely examined for actions or attitudes that could improve. Sometimes the action of the person in the family causes addiction and the family doesn't even know about that fact. This can be done in a way to help the addiction and not make it worse.

Because of love, they feel they have to justify an addiction and hide the truth behind the person they love. They may make excuses for that person's sudden weight loss, for example. Enabling comes in a variety of forms and should also be studied by the family to gain a better understanding. In some instances, loved ones may even be financially supporting their habits. This is enabling the drug addiction further and you must set boundaries and change your behavior so that their behavior may change.

Talk to an Interventionist

Families often find it surprising how someone can help a drug abuser accept help. Sometimes, someone needs some kind of help to access treatment and the services of an interventionist can prove valuable. It's often a professional interventionists' advice from a visit that can help people get through to an addict. Family members using intervention can achieve higher success rates with their loved ones receiving treatment.

Do not wait until your loved one has been admitted for treatment on their own! That day may never come.

Keep encouraging them

Do not let your abusing loved one stop trying. You may have to step back and stop asking them to get help from treatment providers. Remember they have a disorder and are in pain. Try and encourage conversations about how to get someone into rehab if possible, but do not be overbearing. Always make the person know you care about their well-being. Tell them how their actions affect your family and the way they hurt you if you're abused. Use this time to contact treatment providers and insurance companies to be ready when they finally accept to go.

Show non-judgmental love and support

In many cases, a recovering addict might feel like his parents or friends judge him or others, and it may even hinder his recovery process in many ways. You must therefore tell the person you love that you really care. Let your friends know you care about their efforts at staying sober, for example. It is a long road to recovery, but it can happen – and often your loved ones may not want or desire to go through the rehabilitation process for fear of physical withdrawal. It's fine to feel disappointed, though it's equally important you continue showing your loving support until things start to go smoothly again.

How does Addiction Affect the Whole Family?

Addictions impact households in many ways. Families may respond differently when living in homes that suffer from active addictions. Likewise alcoholics' mother's can become too protective. Maybe she won't let her child leave her sight. The spouse who tries to control prescription drug addiction, may turn the blind eye. If you have found yourself dealing with addiction, or if you have had any problems, then there are ways you can help the patient.

Encourage Them to Take Part in Treatment by Doing So Yourself With Family Support Groups

According to the severity and the degree of disorder or addiction the person will likely require long periods of treatment. Some of the easiest methods for getting people help include taking responsibility for their goals and providing instrumental support when they return from rehab. Remember, however, addiction is an individual disease, and steps differ for each of them to best support their loved one individually.

Family Therapy

Have an optimistic and wholesome lifestyle and avoid smothering yourself. Some things you may do include: watch your mood or behavior, take part in support groups, see a therapist. Remember anything you speak about is kept confidential, so although it may be difficult to talk about certain things, you may take comfort in knowing it is kept in confidence.

One critical step in healing recovery is to recognize that healing is a long process for those affected. By understanding the obstacles often encountered in healing, a family can prepare itself for the support they need throughout this process.

Take Care of Yourself as a Family

It's extremely difficult to take care of someone recovering from an illness. However, you must always be the best possible help and support for the family. Getting back into your family environment may cause you some challenges and disappointments; therefore, self-care is very important. You need to be capable of managing negative emotions. This means you need to have a good self-care routine.

Encourage Your Loved One to Maintain Healthy Habits

Mental, physiological and psychological conditions are essential to recovering individuals. So encourage the person you love to exercise or participate in a regular self-care routine to maintain good health habits. You can possibly help them to achieve their objectives either through becoming their gym partner, or by learning to cook healthy meals with them.

Family Involvement in Addiction Recovery: Treatment for the Entire Family Conclusion

Addiction recovery may be difficult. When people decide they want help with an addiction or need help, they perform an enormously brave and admirable act. They commit to complete changes to their lives, giving away everything they've learned in their life and attempting to start all over again. Many people struggling with addiction face the biggest challenges in life. Because soberness can be a challenge, it can be very beneficial to have lots of supportive care during all stages.

Don't Wait! Get Help Now.