Addiction hurts the whole family
Drug and alcohol addiction causes immense suffering. It ruins relationships, takes away livelihoods, damages people’s physical and mental health, and steals even their sense of self, turning them into someone they hardly recognize.
Addiction doesn’t only hurt the individual with the substance use disorder. Families suffer too – often profoundly.
Spouses, partners, parents and the children of addicts see the person they love disappearing before their eyes. Family members live with constant worry and fear for their loved one’s safety. Family members may become preoccupied with keeping track of their loved one’s whereabouts and managing the fallout from destructive, unpredictable behavior.
Family members may also feel forced to compromise their own values to protect their loved one and their family, including lying to employers, hiding the extent of the addiction, isolating or skipping social events to avoid embarrassment and setting aside their own needs as they struggle to cope with the havoc in their home lives.
Addiction breaks family member’s hearts. At the same time, family members may also feel tremendous anger, hurt and resentment at their loved one’s behavior.
RiverMend Health Centers Family Program Focuses on Healing
Addiction treatment helps those in recovery gain the skills to stay sober, heal from the damage caused by addiction and rebuild their relationships and lives. Families also need support to heal from the deep wounds caused by the addiction and resulting behavior. By participating in RiverMend Health Centers Family Program, family members:
- Learn about addiction, how addiction targets free will and why 12-step recovery programs are so important.
- Connect with other families who have faced similar challenges, creating an important support network.
- Gain insight into “enabling” behaviors that mean well but sabotage recovery, and how to avoid them while still showing love and concern.
- Learn ways to effectively support their loved one, especially during the critical days of early recovery.
- Better understand how addiction has impacted family dynamics, and begin the healing process.