It’s not uncommon for family and addiction to go hand in hand. Spouses, children, and others live with the reality of their loved one’s substance use and become accustomed to navigating these relationships. Always on guard, family members might try to minimize the damage. Different issues concerning how best to treat an individual’s substance abuse will likely depend on the person’s role in the family. But before the family dynamic deteriorates too far, there are numerous options for help.
If you’re looking for an effective family therapy program in the Lewisville, TX area, Grace Counseling’s staff specializes in treating addiction and helping families heal. Through holistic approaches like yoga therapy, educational programming, and family counseling, Grace ensures that each of our patients, and those who love them, has the tools they need to achieve long-term wellness.
Family and Addiction: Relationships Need TLC
Families come in all shapes and sizes. But particularly when they include children, the impact of addiction through a family member’s substance abuse may affect a child on many levels. Many individuals grow up in a home where a parent abuses drugs or alcohol. Since children are still developing their personalities and are vulnerable to external influences, they risk repeating such influences and behaviors.
Experiencing the trauma of a parent suffering from addiction has long-term effects on young people, who are also in peril of developing a substance use disorder in adulthood. A child’s emotional distress can be caused by witnessing family members argue and fight, leading a child to feel neglected or unsafe. Experiencing an addicted parent’s negative behaviors may also invoke distressing emotions like fear or guilt that can lead to emotional disorders later in life.
In What Ways Can a Family Be Affected by Addiction?
The impact a family may feel can range from the small things, like making excuses for a loved one’s behavior or absence, to bigger issues like facing financial ruin. Other ways families are affected commonly include:
- Negativity, in general, has seeped into all aspects of family life
- Inconsistency and chaos contribute to an unstable environment
- Denial that there’s an issue affecting each member of the family
- Resentment of the addictive behavior, feeling ignored
- Financial hardships from indirectly supporting the addiction
Dealing with an individual’s addiction might become exhausting. The family may feel embarrassed, angry, or hopeless. Sometimes family members can feel all these emotions and more but do not share what they’re feeling or know how to communicate it effectively or appropriately.
The Web of Substance Abuse and Relationships
Proceeding toward recovery can be difficult. Sometimes families have established patterns so pronounced that they could only benefit from outside assistance. Progress in family and addiction recovery is entirely possible with expert counseling, education, and diligent work. Equipping everyone involved with the skills they need to connect on a meaningful level is instrumental to family healing.
The best way to begin rebuilding family relationships is to seek addiction treatment for the individual and involve the family as much as possible in their recovery. Reconstructing family relationships is a productive way to fix such issues and effectively change the dynamics between each member of the family.
Grace Counseling Supports Families Impacted by Addiction
A return to health and wellness is the goal. The role of therapeutic counseling for the whole family is important in an individual’s recovery. Our team of experienced staff at Grace Counseling takes the time to customize treatment plans for our clients to ensure that we can best address your family’s individual needs. If you are struggling with the dynamics of family and addiction, contact us to learn more about our therapeutic treatment programs and start healing today. Contact us through our brief online message form, or call one of Grace Counseling’s specialists at 844.564.0712.
