Drug Rehab and Families
The old debate used to be nature vs. nurture - which force truly makes humans what they are? In fact, both contribute to the way each person’s life is shaped including addictions. Families provide influence on a person both with a growing-up environment and (most times) genetics. Addiction usually stems from problems within a person’s family of origin. The problems recycle themselves when the addict forms a family of their own. This creates a tangled web of secrets, shame, pain, and emotion for everyone involved. Whether loving or distant, family is an important part of a person’s addiction journey.
Families and Addiction
Maybe your parents divorced when you were young. Perhaps one of your parents was an alcoholic or drug user. Or, there were other stress you endured while growing up like frequent moves or bullying. You may have even began experiencing depression as an adult after something devastating, following childbirth, or later in life. Any of these situations could spawn the seeds for an addiction. And they can all involve family members.
It’s one thing to blow off friends, date people for just a few weeks at a time, or keep to oneself at work. It’s entirely different when someone is a part of a family. For better or for worse, family ties have long lasting effects. If an addiction develops, the entire family system changes in dramatic ways. Family roles become more extreme, some people are blamed, others are ignored, some do anything to distract from the problem - all are in pain.
How Family Can Support an Addict Through Drug Treatment
Know when it’s time for treatment - Sudden personality changes, daily drug use, and money that can’t be accounted for are all signs that substance use has turned to substance addiction. Also, someone with an addiction turns away from previous interests, has tried to quit or cut down with “a million times”, and behaves in dangerous ways.
Get the professionals involved - Learn how your loved one’s addiction works. Get information from credible resources about the mental illness diagnosis as well. Processing all of this information can help you, the family member, get some perspective on what has been happening in your loved one’s life.
Face the music - Many people want to turn away from the truth of addiction and mental illness, as if not acknowledging it will make it go away. It’s a huge elephant in the living room - obvious, but not up for discussion. When you uncover the facts and bring them out into the light, the power and mystery of the problems become less overwhelming and isolating.
The situation becomes more manageable because it is not treated as a secret anymore. It can be dealt with one baby step at a time. When you courageously embrace the truth and gently reflect it back to your loved one through their recovery, they can keep the truth in front of them as well.
Family Participating in Addiction Treatment
Family of origin therapy is an important part of drug rehab. It often reveals emotions, beliefs, and patterns of thinking that have opened the door to addiction. When it is feasible and deemed helpful, family of origin drug treatment programs can be done on weekends to make sure family members can attend the sessions.
Also, there are many individual and group counseling sessions for each person during drug rehab. Family issues connected with their addiction and mental illness can be explored with therapists and other fellow addicts.
Your Thoughts
If you are a family member of an addict, what have you done to support and guide your loved one towards drug rehab?
Tags: Drug Rehab and Families, drug treatment, drug-rehab
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