Addiction not only affects the individual facing challenges with substance use disorder (SUD) but their surroundings as well. Family is the primary source of nurturement, socialization, and attachment. Therefore, addiction affects each member of the family unit and is a family disease. It is essential to help family members, especially the children involved, work together to confront the challenges associated with addiction. Knowing that educating the family matters, family therapy for addiction at South Shore Recovery Center can help each family member understand the impact of their behavior and provide further support to overcome addiction together.
It can be weighing on each family member to witness a loved one struggle with SUD. SUD can be defined as a chronic brain disease that affects an individual’s brain and behavioral patterns. The effects of SUD can be sensed by the entire family involved as it is a family disease. Repetitive, addictive behaviors can make each family member feel deeply saddened and helpless. Family dynamics can unravel how SUDs are managed, developed, or maintained. The family context holds the information on what has negatively or positively influenced a loved one’s disorder and can often result in poor outcomes. Therefore, the damage that stems from addiction within a family often merits immediate attention.
Each family member can be uniquely affected by their loved one’s substance abuse. Partners, spouses, siblings, friends, adults, children, and parents may all be affected by addiction. For example, some family members may endure impaired attachment, unmet developmental needs, legal problems, economic hardship, domestic violence, or emotional distress.
Poor addictive behaviors can significantly impair relationships with loved ones. Each family member may experience health concerns such as high levels of distress, financial strife from high health costs, pure isolation, hurtful stigma, and discrimination from others. Addictive behaviors can also damage family relationships and cause mental health complications such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Some behaviors an addicted loved one may exhibit include the following:
Healthy boundaries are important to reach the normal development of a family and children. Therefore, children, especially, may be affected by a loved one’s addiction. For example, their upbringing may be negatively impacted by their family member’s substance abuse. Children, adolescents, and older teens may find it difficult to understand the reasoning behind a family member’s addiction or co-occurring mental health disorder.
They may not have reached peak psychological development to understand the complexities involved in their family member’s condition. Unresolved addiction can manifest in emotional, social, academic, and behavioral problems. Aside from genetic causes, children may also be at an increased risk of developing SUD in the future due to various environmental factors. For example, substance exposure and learned behaviors in the household can influence children to misuse drugs later in life. Therefore, it is important for each family member to practice good habits and become good role models for their children.
Family mental health care costs are higher than families who do not have a family member having problems due to coping with the effects of addiction. Instead of spending money on family vacations, saving for college or retirement, or spending money on things that make each family member happy, the extra money goes towards “fixing” the addiction. For example, a family member may constantly loan the addicted loved one money that goes toward their addiction. This can leave the family feeling stressed out, angry, or depressed.
Some families are driven into debt, spending money on gas to get to treatment, taking time from work for mental health treatment, or spending money on treatment in hopes of curing their loved one’s condition. Although there is no cure, different forms of treatment may include rehab or residential care, intensive outpatient treatment, or hospitalization.
Knowing that SUD is a lifelong condition, exploring aftercare services can also be costly. If a relapse occurs, the entire family may begin to lose hope. According to the aforementioned BMJ study, research has found that there have been more than 100 million family members affected by a loved one’s SUD. However, there has been an increase in awareness of families impacted by addiction as a whole.
Moreover, surveys have estimated that approximately 50% of family members seeking addiction services were also coping with mental health complications. For example, various studies have reported elevated rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and death by suicide in families stemming from the adverse effects of unmanaged addiction.
Each family member’s involvement in a structured addiction treatment routine is important for two interrelated reasons. The primary reason is that family interventions can work to reduce the harm to each family member as well as the entire family unit. The second reason is that family involvement plays a critical role in healing. Family therapy education can also:
A typical family intervention involves multiple family members within each session. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), family therapy is focused on the premise that a family is a system of unique parts. For example, even the slightest change in the family system can provoke change in other parts. As a result, the family’s dynamics can reform in unhealthy ways. Some family members may lash out or simply shut down as a response to addictive behaviors. Family therapy can address negative changes such as trust issues from pathologically lying or caregiver burnout from taking on too much responsibility.
It can be tough for even the most motivated individuals to adjust while in treatment or recovery. Family therapy techniques can help each family member recover and heal from the effects of addiction. Each family member learns the tools needed to make positive changes in therapy. Therapy marks a positive influence on a family’s loved one’s journey to abstinence from misusing harmful substances. Different methods within family therapy can help each family member recover from the trauma and distress linked with a loved one’s addiction. Common family therapy techniques include:
Family therapy is important in helping patients and their families understand that they are not alone. Families that do not seek professional support may undergo serious risks. If their loved one’s condition is left unmanaged, this can often lead to divorce, custody problems, snowballing debt, problems with law enforcement, and broken family relationships. Continued substance abuse without proper management can essentially destroy a family altogether.
Based on the aforementioned SAMSHA study, families that participate in behavioral health treatment that involves family therapy reach a better outcome than those participating in treatment that does not. For instance, family therapy in combination with individual psychotherapy can reduce psychiatric symptoms and relapse rates. A loved one may less frequently need to be hospitalized, and the stress linked to a family member’s condition may be greatly reduced. When the negative effects of addiction are addressed, everyone works together as a team to emotionally support one another and provide guidance as needed for ongoing recovery.
Family therapy at South Shore Recovery Center provides loved ones with helpful tools to identify and address codependent behaviors. This enables healthier patterns of interaction to promote a stronger family bond moving forward from addiction. Ultimately, the therapists collaborate with families to address their challenges and strengthen their bonds.
A family therapist can professionally mediate by patiently listening to each family member’s concerns. They may respond by considering each family member’s perspective while performing conflict resolution. This may help ease tension to make for a calm yet harmonious environment and encourage continuous family engagement. Depending on the type of family therapy chosen, each family member may engage in different activities to gain additional benefit. Parents may also take the lead in helping their children recover from the harmful effects of SUD.
It can be tough for an individual with SUD to find forgiveness not only in themselves but in others as well. Hurtful stigma and discrimination from others can severely impair one’s mental health. Family members may also find it especially difficult to forgive a loved one’s addictive behaviors.
Knowing addictive behaviors can severely impair relationships with family and friends, family therapy can facilitate positive change. Working with a family therapist can foster trust and security for everyone involved. Not everyone knows what to expect. This can make family members hesitant to move forward with care. Each session may provide reassurance that their loved one may eventually change for the better. Family members will eventually heal from the negative impact of addiction.
South Shore Recovery Center implements family therapy in its approach to lasting care. Family members who stay dedicated to treatment may experience vast improvement in many areas of their lives. Ongoing engagement may effectively restore communication and trust to achieve a stronger family connection altogether. Different techniques used within treatment can provide education and understanding to eliminate poor judgment and stigma. Family therapy may also work to uncover underlying issues for ongoing improvement. Further advantages that can come from engaging in family therapy together include:
Family therapy is not always easy. It may feel tough for some family members to discuss their response to trauma linked with addiction. This can also make it highly difficult for some family members to focus while in treatment. The individual facing problems with SUD may also feel attacked or gained up while in therapy for their addictive behaviors. Sensitive topics can make it even more difficult for an individual family member to open up.
It is common for some family members to lack interest in therapy. Some individuals may not want to sacrifice any more of their time for a loved one. They may have blamed themselves for their family members’ behaviors, feel therapy may not change anything, or find treatment to be plain boring. However, family interventions can be a creative and supportive ecosystem for everyone to enjoy treatment together. It can be a fun holistic approach to healing to encourage continuous participation and achieve long-term recovery.
Staying dedicated to care can seem challenging due to several uncomfortable factors. Knowing that family therapy is not always easy, the outcome is almost always worth the effort. It is common for an individual with SUD to relapse within the first year after treatment. They may relapse late in recovery as well. Although this can feel defeating for everyone involved, It is important for each family member to remain patient to truly heal from the effects of addiction.
Each family member can confide in one another, open up about their response to the unwanted relapse, and work together to move forward. As hard as it may seem, family support can make a world of difference and increase the length of time before the next occurrence, become prepared for another relapse, or prevent a relapse from happening altogether. Family therapy can teach each family member how to show support. Different ways each family member can show support include:
Although a substance relapse is common, practicing different strategies can help everyone in the family maintain treatment to achieve lasting recovery. It can be helpful for each family member to prepare their thoughts in advance before attending each session together. Doing so can create a more structured path forward. Starting family therapy with an open mind can ensure each family member leaves the session with zero regrets. This may also help each family member feel more confident sharing their thoughts.
Setting continuous goals can also help family members achieve ongoing success. Regularly reviewing goals can help everyone work towards achieving them. Starting small and working towards bigger milestones can be more effective. Practicing self-care, such as getting good sleep to gain energy, can help each family member remain focused in each session. Knowing tension can be problematic in family therapy; setting healthy boundaries, such as being respectful with each family member, can provide a safe environment and improve communication skills within the family unit. Additional tips that can help families stay dedicated to family therapy include:
The team at South Shore Recovery Center believes that educating families about substance use disorder (SUD) plays a central role in fostering lasting recovery and restoring relationships. In the journey to overcome SUD, the support and involvement of loved ones can make an extraordinary difference. At South Shore Recovery Center, the integration of family therapy is driven by the understanding that the family unit significantly impacts an individual’s substance use journey. By addressing these dynamics through therapy, South Shore Recovery Center strives to create a harmonious environment that supports the patient’s recovery and contributes to their sustained well-being. Call South Shore Recovery Center at (774) 515-2878 for support and more information on our treatment program.
DISCLAIMER: South Shore Recovery Center is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to provide Outpatient Counseling and Day Treatment Services.
