For many of our clients, their biggest regret about addiction is the destruction it has caused in their marriages, families, and relationships. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), “Addiction is a family disease that stresses the family to the breaking point, impacts the stability of the home, the family’s unity, mental health, physical health, finances, and overall family dynamics.” Unfortunately, most families are completely unprepared to deal with addiction when it occurs.
At San Diego’s AToN Center luxury rehab, our team of credentialed addiction specialists provides intensive family therapy programs that help to heal broken relationships and restore stability to families facing total devastation. Our family therapy sessions are offered several times while clients reside at AToN. Lasting up to 90 minutes, they are facilitated by a clinical psychologist and give attendees the chance to candidly share their feelings about the destructive impact that addiction has had on the entire family unit.
How Families Can Begin the Healing Process
It is important that family members seek professional help to deal with a loved one’s addiction. Therapists, community support groups, and trusted friends can all play a role in the family’s recovery. In the meantime, there are several ways that family members can begin the painful healing process:
Get educated. Drug and alcohol dependency is an emotional topic, so it helps to have an objective understanding of how addiction works, why a loved one has become addicted, and how it leads to destructive or maladaptive behaviors. Addiction education also gives you an idea of what to expect while your family member is in drug or alcohol rehabilitation—and what your role may be in the process.
Support without enabling. As your therapist will tell you, many “helpful” behaviors end up encouraging addictive patterns. Be aware of the things that enable your loved one, such as loaning them money, allowing them to live with you, or making excuses for them when employers or friends call. Now is the time to draw a line in the sand. Creating healthy boundaries protects you and contributes to the rehab success of your parent, child, or family member.
Practice self-care. When your mom, dad, child, or another relative is addicted to drugs and alcohol, the focus is often on them. Many family members neglect self-care as they try to provide limitless support to their loved one, but this is unwise. Don’t allow your family member’s addiction to take over your entire world. Daily self-care techniques keep you emotionally and physically healthy throughout the addiction treatment process.
Addiction Treatment Support for Family Members
To learn more about AToN Center’s support for family members, click here. To request a consultation or speak with a member of our San Diego luxury rehab team, call 888.535.1516 now!
