10 Tips to Help Family Members of Addicts Cope and Find Support

Many find it helpful to join a self-help or support group for friends, families, and loved ones of individuals struggling with an addiction or in recovery. These mutual assistance groups are typically free and based on shared personal experiences rather than family support in addiction recovery professional, fee-based services, like counselors or therapists. Map and categorise the extent, range and nature of evidence available in peer-reviewed and grey literature examining family interventions in substance use disorders and problem gambling.

The fear of being judged can actually have serious effects on the recovery process. If you are going to support your loved one in a men’s recovery program, then do so with an open-mind and the utmost respect. Continually remind them that they are strong for staying grounded in their sobriety. The recovery process is a long one, and at some point your loved one may feel demotivated to continue and may stop treatment, altogether. It’s okay to experience roadblocks during the course of treatment. Continue to show love and support until they get back on track.

Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)

If we can’t help protect the health of other family members affected by their addiction, are we really loving the family how he hope to? And if we really want to protect a loved from harming themselves from their addiction, can we truly do that if we aren’t willing to set boundaries that prevent enabling behavior? Setting boundaries in the form of knowing when to say no is perhaps the most important thing a family member can do to support their loved one. When people discuss the impact of addiction, the focus is often on the addicted individual. The dependent is the individual suffering from substance use disorder. The dependent misuses drugs and alcohol to cope with the conflicts and pressures of life.

Reacting in a defensive way when any changes in attitude or behavior are brought up. By receiving training in administering the FDA approved opioid overdose reversal medication Narcan® , families can be better equipped to prevent the death of a loved one. They protect our own well-being and the health of other family members. Write letters or call when allowed to support and motivate recovery. Spending time making the meal together or cleaning up afterward can increase the benefits. While this can be difficult at first, it will force your loved one to get a job and handle their own money. As time goes on, and if it is needed, they can slowly have access to financial help.

Learn as much as possible about addiction.

So you receive the precise level of treatment you need for your best healing and greater chances of long-term recovery. If family members receive the education and support they need along the way, they can develop new dynamics that support the recovery of individuals who suffer from substance addiction. Family involvement in substance use disorder treatment is crucial. Support from family members can prevent relapses, improve psychiatric symptoms and increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

This can help create awareness about how family dynamics have been impacted by the disorder or addiction. Like many things in life, the challenge of lifelong recovery is made easier with the practical and emotional support of family members. With the help of their family members, people are more likely to realize they need treatment and get the practical and emotional support they need to start and complete treatment. Addiction affects all aspects of a person’s life, including their loved ones and communities. It is no wonder that these same loved ones and community members can be the most powerful sources of support.

Go to family therapy sessions.

Setting a consistent, adequate sleep schedule can help you get the rest you need to function your best and cope with the challenges of having a loved one with an addiction. Family therapy sessions can take time, and it can be tempting to skip a session — particularly for families with a number of conflicting appointments and agendas. However, this work is vital to the mental health of everyone involved, so meetings should be attended whenever possible. Family therapy programs are designed to break down distrust and guilt by giving everyone a chance to feel heard.

• Attend mutual support meetings with your loved one or on your own to connect with others who have experienced addiction second-hand.
• Support groups also equip you with knowledge on how to stop enabling addictive behavior.
• As members in recovery begin thinking clearly, they may feel humiliation and embarrassment for past behaviors.
• The chances of having more than one person in a family with a problem are high.
• As with other 12-step groups, Al-Anon uses spiritual themes to promote compassion and acceptance.

Click for COVID-19 information on vaccinations, testing, visitors, online visits, and how we provide safe care. Click here for COVID-19 information on vaccinations, testing, visitors, online visits, and how we provide safe care. Download audio and video files, and other resources for families.

How Can I Help My Loved One’s Recovery?

If you have a spouse or loved one who is struggling with an addiction or other problematic behaviors, you may feel discouraged, betrayed, hurt, or hopeless. You may worry about the significant consequences that seem to loom over you and your loved one. You can get support and find healing through spouse and family support groups. An important note to remember is that the effectiveness of addiction treatment involves a multitude of factors. INTERVENTION Interventions to address substance use disorder vary widely in format and style, but often share a common desire of seeing a loved one enter into addiction treatment.

After seeing that the family is stable enough, underlying feelings that may be triggers or causes of past and current drinking recurrences might then be investigated. They may also help guide the family as they begin to move from drinking to abstinence, then toward the last part of the transition stage.