The news that a family member requires addiction recovery can be incredibly overwhelming if you had no idea about their ongoing struggles. However, to ensure their best chance of success, you will need to come together as a family and support them through their endeavors. It might not be initially easy, but by taking the time to understand them and the situation, you can help them persevere through what may be an incredibly challenging phase of their life.
Don’t host a big intervention
Interventions are incredibly popular, but mostly on television. The scientific advice is not to do this. Interventions can be incredibly harmful to the family member involved, and can actually have the reverse effect. Your aim as a family should be to show compassion, not be destructive.
Be supportive
Not every family copes with the issue of addiction the same way, but to ensure that your family member has the best possible chance of success, you will need to be supportive of their recovery. Admonishing their path into addiction might be a way of venting your frustration, but it may not necessarily help them personally. If they have stated that they are going into recovery, you should encourage them in this venture, and offer to help them find the facilities they need.
Embrace communication
It can be hard to hear that a member of your family requires professional help; however, embracing communication is vital for understanding how they came to be in the situation they are currently in. Understanding this enables you to provide comprehensive support from a place of knowledge and understanding. While you may not completely understanding how they fully came to be in the position they are currently in, listening will enable you to at least gain a small amount of understanding.
Unfortunately, sometimes communication breaks down between family members, no matter how hard you try to work through the pain and struggle of addiction together. If it is your spouse facing the challenge of fighting addiction and their fight turns into resentment towards you for having to give up their drug of choice, it may be time to consider a separation period or even a divorce. If this is a route you feel you have to take, it’s important not to feel guilty. You are not letting your spouse down and you can still offer support and comfort. Sean Smallwood is a divorce attorney in Orlando Florida who can help guide you through the divorce process.
Find a recovery center
One of the best things you can do for a relative that requires treatment for addiction is to help them find a reliable and well-reviewed recovery center. Finding a place with comfortable and comprehensive drug rehab facilities will help to give them the best possible chance of completing their recovery program successfully.
Leave the past at the door
It is perfectly ok to feel a complex range of emotions while a loved one is going through treatment, some of which may include anger or frustration. As tempting as it is to raise the past and ask questions, it’s advised that you don’t do this. Dredging up their former actions may be counter-productive to their recovery. Seeing a psychologist or therapist for your own concerns could be beneficial to you, and prevent you from raising it with the family member in question.
Seeing a family member struggle with addiction can be an incredibly complex and emotional experience. There’s never necessarily one route to success, but by pulling together, and showing support for the individual, you can give them the best possible chance of success. Seeking help, on both sides, will ensure that communication is positive and constructive, allowing everyone’s voice to be heard.
If you’re on the fence about your loved one needing addiction treatment, contact a specialist at Create Recovery Center today!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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