Having a family member go through addiction can be a very complicated and emotional process for the person experiencing addiction as well as their family. Families of addicts often become the support system of the substance user, which can put a strain on them in many ways. Alcohol abuse, in particular, can have a significant impact on families, leading to emotional and psychological consequences for both the individual and their loved ones. Because of this, it is absolutely essential for families of addicts to get the emotional support they need.
Loving somebody who is experiencing addiction is never easy. Whether the addict is your spouse, child, sibling, or parent, the repercussions of their addiction will be far-reaching and can have an impact on your physical and mental health. Families often receive conflicting messages from the healthcare system regarding their caregiving roles, which can complicate their efforts to provide support.
In this article, we discuss how addiction affects families as a whole and how families of addicts can get the emotional support they need.
Understanding How Family Relationships Are Impacted by Substance Use Disorder
The impact of addiction on families should not be underestimated. Although the person experiencing the addiction is the main priority when it comes to recovery, anyone close to them will also be impacted, especially families impacted by addiction.
Whether your loved one is a child, parent, spouse, or sibling, their addiction will impact your relationship and your mental health. Many families will experience the repercussions of their loved one’s addiction, such as:
- Exposure to drugs and alcohol
- Financial hardships
- Dangerous or reckless behavior
- Side effects of withdrawal
- Strained relationships
- Resentment and mistrust
How addiction impacts family members and an individual struggling with addiction will also vary significantly depending on the family member and type of relationship. An example of this is the significant negative effects children of addicts experience, especially when they grow up watching their parents deal with their addiction.
If your spouse is the one with the addiction, this can cause long-lasting issues within the marriage, which can result in separation or a divorce.
How Family Members of Addicts Can Get Help
Now that you know how addiction impacts families as a whole, how can you get help? The good news is that there are many emotional support resources available for families of addicts to help you throughout this process. Dedicated programs aimed to support families affected by addiction provide education and guidance through family therapy.
Taking care of yourself is an important step when it comes to being able to provide the support your loved one needs in their recovery. Finding the right support group for families affected by addiction is crucial, as these groups offer essential resources, emotional support, and community connections.
With this in mind, here are some examples of resources available for families that you can take advantage of.
Practice Self-Care
It is very common for loved ones of addicts to neglect their own needs as they focus on the needs of the addict. Although this is admirable, you cannot pour from an empty cup. In order to provide the support your loved one needs throughout recovery, you need to be supporting your own mental and physical well-being. Setting boundaries is crucial for self-care, as it helps you avoid enabling behaviors and reduces stress.
You should try to maintain a baseline of self-care no matter what is going on with your loved one. This includes daily forms of self-care, such as:
- Exercising
- Eating regular meal
- Getting enough sleep
- Stay connected with other loved ones
- Making time for hobbies
Go to Individual Therapy
If you are actively participating in your loved one’s recovery program, you are probably attending therapy sessions with them. People struggling with addiction face numerous challenges, including stigma and the need for proper healthcare funding. However, you should also consider going to individual therapy, where you can discuss your own needs in a safe space.
A therapist can help you manage the many emotions you are probably feeling, such as anger, guilt, and shame. They can also help you identify important boundaries you need to have in your life, as well as find coping skills.
Disconnect Emotionally
There is a certain amount of disconnecting you need to do if you have a family member who is battling addiction. Disconnecting emotionally does not mean you will no longer support them or love them; it simply means you are putting up healthy boundaries.
By disconnecting emotionally, you are protecting your own well-being by reducing how their actions impact your mental health. Not only does this benefit your overall well-being, but it also benefits your loved one since you will be able to be more supportive and less emotional as they go through their recovery journey.
But to disconnect emotionally, you will need to identify healthy boundaries and stop enabling. These boundaries may include certain things you will not do for your loved one or certain requirements they must meet. Healthy boundaries can be difficult to set, but they ultimately improve the relationship by cutting off enabling behavior.
Communicate Openly
Creating a relationship that focuses on open communication with your loved one is vital if they are going through addiction treatment. Not only is this strongly encouraged in most treatment programs, but it can also help you care for your emotional well-being as you provide them with support.
You can encourage open communication with something like family counseling, which creates a safe space for everybody to voice how they are feeling. You can also attend family support groups, which is a good way of expressing how you are feeling in a more productive manner.
Keep in mind that communication isn’t meant to only focus on the negative. Rather, communicating openly with your loved one can help them better understand how their actions impact the ones they love. This isn’t meant to cause guilt or shame — instead, it’s meant to encourage accountability and positive behavioral changes.
Use Support Groups and Addiction Resources
Besides common addiction resources, such as therapy and support groups, there are other resources you can take advantage of as well. One thing that is encouraged for families of addicts to do is to research their loved ones’ addictions. Different addictions are very complex and will impact the individual in different ways.
Researching the addiction your loved one is going through can help promote more empathy and understanding. You can also better understand their actions and how the addiction developed, which can help mitigate feelings of anger and resentment.
Get the Help You Need at My Time Recovery
If you are a family member of somebody with an addiction, you need to focus on your mental health and overall well-being. Providing the support and encouragement your loved one needs can be challenging at times, especially if you are feeling burned out. That is why families of addicts need to focus on their mental well-being as well as the well-being of the loved one experiencing addiction.
Looking to get holistic support for your loved one? Contact us today at My Time Recovery to get help for your loved one as well as find resources for families.
