It can be difficult watching a family member struggle with addiction. Addiction is a very debilitating disease that can completely alter an individual’s appearance and behavior. Families dealing with addiction can also suffer as addiction fractures an addict’s relationships with friends and loved ones. This can leave families dealing with addiction confused about what next steps they can take to best help their family member in need.
At Rise in Malibu, we are a luxury drug rehab committed to helping addicts overcome addiction and maintain a healthier, happier life of sobriety. We offer a range of drug and alcohol treatment services so patients can receive tailored treatment around their exact recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your recovery journey.
Seek Outside Support For Help
It’s essential to understand that you are not responsible for helping your family member overcome addiction all on your own. Watching your family member fall into the chains of addiction can be difficult. However, you should never feel guilty or like it is your fault your family member has an addiction, nor should you feel like you are the only one that can help them get sober.
There are countless drug and alcohol rehab centers with highly trained, compassionate staff that help addicts overcome addiction. Therefore, rather than trying to help your family member overcome addiction all on your own, research local drug rehab centers in your area that can help your family member.
Attend Family Therapy Sessions
Addiction can, unfortunately, cause immense strain on relationships, especially among relationships with family members. This can lead to family members blaming themselves for their family member’s addiction or constantly fighting and distancing themselves from that family member altogether.
Attending family addiction therapy sessions offers the opportunity for all family members to feel seen and heard and communicate their feelings with one another. Plus, family drug treatment sessions help rebuild relationships among family members.
Research and Learn More About Addiction
Often, families dealing with addiction may not fully understand addiction and what their family member struggling with addiction is going through. For instance, some may consider addiction a form of weakness, whereas others may think that quitting is all about having enough willpower. These false assumptions and misconceptions can hurt your ability to help your family member struggling with addiction in the long run. Therefore, consider learning more about addiction and researching more about the specific addiction your family member has so you can better understand what they are going through.
Be Caring, Compassionate, & Non-Judgemental
Addiction is a disease, not something someone can quit if they have enough willpower. Not to mention, addiction can be highly isolating and debilitating. Therefore, rather than judging your family member for their addiction, show compassion towards your family member and be there for them without enabling their addiction.
Set Realistic Expectations
When your family member does go to get addiction treatment, be sure to manage your expectations. While it can be exciting, and you’ll likely feel very hopeful as they receive addiction treatment, it’s essential to understand that your family member won’t overcome their addiction overnight. Overcoming addiction is a life-long journey, and it takes time and consistent effort to break old addictive patterns and habits.
Schedule Private Therapy Sessions For Yourself
A family member struggling with addiction can affect your mental health and well-being. You can feel many feelings, such as blame or guilt. Consider scheduling a private therapy session for yourself to improve your mental health and tackle any negative feelings you may have.
Set Healthy Boundaries
While you want to be supportive of your family member struggling with addiction and be non-judgmental, it’s important to set healthy boundaries to 1) prevent yourself from enabling their addiction and 2) protect your mental health and well-being.
Be Patient
As discussed when talking about setting realistic expectations, it’s essential to be patient with your family member as they progress along their recovery journey. It can be exciting when your family member does seek professional treatment; however, don’t expect them to overcome addiction overnight. Therefore, be patient and supportive as your family member progresses along their road to recovery.
Top-Rated Malibu Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Families dealing with addiction should never feel like they are solely responsible for helping their family members get better. Many drug rehab centers offer comprehensive addiction treatment services to help your loved one overcome addiction and live a long-term life of sobriety.
At Rise in Malibu, we offer a range of clinical, traditional, holistic, and medical treatment options to help addicts break free of addiction. Contact us to learn how you can start your recovery journey today.
