Family involvement is a critical part of the recovery process for people struggling with substance use disorders and their loved ones. Addiction can take an enormous toll on families, both emotionally and financially. It can be difficult for family members to know how to best support their loved one in recovery. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of family involvement in addiction recovery and offer tips for how families can support their loved ones, both during and after treatment.
Substance use effects every member of the family.
Some may develop coping mechanisms to help them deal with those effects, ranging anywhere from harmless to dangerous:
- Ignoring the problem
- Staying away from the person struggling with addiction
- Enabling
Because of this, family members must recover too.
One of the most important things families can do to support their loved one in recovery is to create and enforce healthy boundaries.
It is important that family members set clear expectations for how they expect their loved one to behave and what they will and will not tolerate. This can help to avoid any potential conflict and provide a supportive foundation for recovery.
Another way families can help is by learning how to communicate with their loved one.
This includes learning what types of communication are most helpful and which could be detrimental. For example, when communicating with a loved one who is in recovery, it is important to avoid any shaming language. Instead, show support and express your love and concern.
Finally, families can support their loved one in recovery by attending meetings and therapy sessions together.
This provides an opportunity for the family to learn about addiction and how to best support their loved one during and after treatment. It can also help build a supportive network of people who are all invested in their loved one’s success.
There are also many ways families can support their loved one after treatment.
Some of the most important include:
- Providing emotional support
- Offering practical assistance
- Promoting healthy behaviors
- Encouraging abstinence from drugs and alcohol
The most important thing families can do to help their loved ones in recovery is to get involved.
Encourage them to attend meetings and therapy sessions, learn about addiction so that you understand what they are going through, and set clear boundaries for how you expect them to behave. It is also important for family members to continue to attend to their own recovery by attending Al-Anon meetings, therapy, and reaching out for support when they need it. Remember that recovery is a process, not an event, and involving the whole family in the process is an excellent way for a family system to find healing.
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We are ready to help your family begin its journey to recovery. Please call anytime at 866-856-0801 .
Contact us for more information about how Windhaven House can help you achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. Call 866-856-0801 or send us a message now.
