Your family members can be the closest allies in your struggle to overcome addiction. However, in some cases, they can also contribute to the habit. What do you need to know about the connection between addiction and family? How does it affect your healing?
Substance Abuse Affects Your Relationships
There is little doubt that dependency on a substance has a profound effect on loved ones. That said, it is different for each relationship. For example, children will react to a mother’s substance abuse with specific coping mechanisms. They vary from those of a spouse or partner. No matter the relationship, there is a connection between addiction and family.
As a daughter, consider that your parents also react to your chemical dependency. However, their reactions will be different from those of your peer group. No matter how your loved ones respond individually, there will be some commonalities. Examples include feelings of frustration, anger, blame, and disappointment.
Your children or spouse may become caretakers. This shift in the family dynamic is unhealthy. You may sense the reluctance and start to withdraw from loved ones. Self-isolation is typical behavior of women with active drug addictions.
When Addiction and Family Relationships Lead to Codependency
Sometimes, family members are not the support network that you need to quit. Instead, they enable you to keep using. Parents may support you financially while a spouse hides the evidence of your drug abuse. Loved ones may lie and cover for you, which gives you no incentive to quit.
Codependency is a behavior that a person learns. Your loved ones may have encountered this type of situation when they grew up. Conversely, they may be trying to find ways to cope, and enabling you is the path of least resistance. It is not a healthy way of interacting and requires intervention.
How Treatment Helps You and Loved Ones
When you connect addiction and family and decide that it is time to quit using, addiction therapy services are the answer. You work with therapists who help you heal from the substance abuse. Examples of addiction treatment services include modalities such as:
- Therapy sessions that allow you plenty of time to talk through negative patterns that you want to change
- Group therapy as a means for building healthy relationships with peers in recovery
- Experiential treatment that supports life skills training and team-building exercises
- Meditation as a means of dealing with stressors as well as triggers in a healthy way
- Dual diagnosis assessment and treatment for people with co-occurring mental health conditions
Another integral treatment takes place in a family therapy program. You learn how to rebuild your communication strategies with loved ones. In some cases, you evaluate the family roles that everyone takes on. A therapist assists you in this process.
Reach out to The Willows Today
You do not have to continue abusing a drug that is taking its toll on you and your loved ones. You owe it to yourself to quit! At The Willows, caring therapists assist you with your addiction and family situation. Call (855) 773-0614 today for immediate access to an intake advisor.
