Substance use disorder (SUD) significantly impacts the lives of individuals and their families. Treatment programs often incorporate family into the recovery process through family therapy and other support services. Family involvement in treatment fosters hope and supports lasting change. Clients frequently have better outcomes if their loved ones actively participate in treatment and continuing care. New Found Life encourages families to attend therapy, support group meetings, and community events to better support their loved ones. Healing together strengthens family bonds.
Understanding Addiction’s Ripple Effect
The ripple effects of addiction impact entire communities. Families often experience the most profound impact of SUD. According to Social Work in Public Health, “The negative impacts of parental SUDs on the family include disruption of attachment, rituals, roles, routines, communication, social life, and finances. Families in which there is a parental SUD are characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss, conflict, violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal, and fear.”
Professional rehabilitation programs give clients and their families the tools they need to understand addiction and prepare for a happier, sober future. New Found Life’s family-centered approach provides clients and their loved ones with a beacon of hope.
Emotional Fallout: Coping With Shame, Guilt, Anxiety, and Isolation
Addiction causes families to go through a range of emotions, including guilt, shame, anxiety, fear, and loneliness. Meaningful personal relationships may feel fractured or conflicted, adding to the stress caused by addictive behaviors. Understanding the root cause of these feelings and finding healthy ways to address them helps individuals in recovery heal and repair damaged relationships. Support groups, family therapy, and other support services help families heal and grow together.
Financial Strain: The Cost and Its Impact on Family Stability
Chronic substance abuse often affects a family’s financial stability. Money spent acquiring substances may drain a family’s resources and cause significant financial hardship. In addition, substance abuse may lead to loss of employment or risky financial decisions. The emotional toll of financial difficulties may cause some families to experience conflict or tension. People address factors impacting financial instability during treatment through individual and group therapy.
The Physical and Cognitive Toll on Health and Behavior
Families struggling with SUD often experience significant mental and physical health issues due to the effects of substance abuse. Addiction affects every person differently and may lead to unhealthy family dynamics. Addictive behaviors cause people to lie to their loved ones, experience severe mood swings or anger issues, and engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviors. The negative consequences of addiction may strain a person’s relationships with family members and friends.
Early intervention and treatment are the best way for families to avoid experiencing severe side effects of chronic substance abuse. If left untreated, the cognitive, physical, and behavioral side effects of addiction may cause families to fracture or develop additional problems. Treatment allows families to acknowledge the impact of substance abuse and move forward with their lives.
Communication Breakdown: Barriers to Understanding
Open and honest communication is essential for long-term recovery from substance abuse. Addictive behaviors often cause a breakdown in communication. People may try to hide their addiction out of shame or guilt, and over time, the lack of communication becomes toxic.
Some of the primary barriers to communication for families experiencing substance abuse include:
- Denial of the problem
- Feelings of personal failure
- Emotional exhaustion
- Fear of confrontation
- Mistrust
- Lack of knowledge about addiction
- Confusion about treatment options
- Unrealistic expectations
- Stigma, misunderstandings, or judgment
- Limited access to resources
Treatment programs at New Found Life teach clients how to communicate effectively and develop healthy boundaries.
Shifting Family Dynamics: Roles and Responsibilities
According to the Journal of Addiction Prevention Medicine, “[F]amily dynamics are likely to influence substance use and therefore emotion regulation.”
Some of the roles family members may adopt due to the toxic nature of substance abuse include:
- Enabler: Supporting the person with addiction causing a cycle of harm
- Hero: Trying to fix the problem or broken relationships
- Scapegoat: Blaming and misdirecting anger into a person instead of the disease
- Lost Child: Withdrawing socially from friends and loved ones due to feeling emotionally or physically neglected
Every role has different expectations and goals. People often fall into these roles out of a desire to fix the problem without knowing how to safely achieve that goal. Treatment programs address maladaptive roles within family relationships, allowing people to grow and develop healthier connections.
Navigating the Stages of Addiction as a Family
New Found Life helps clients and their families navigate the following stages of addiction:
- Denial and Confusion: The care team educates families on the early warning signs of SUD
- Acceptance and Intervention: The treatment center provides care to clients and families seeking therapy or counseling for addiction
- Exploring Treatment Options: Comprehensive, personalized treatment plans give clients access to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and counseling
- Preventing Relapse: The care team works with families to problem-solve strategies for long-term recovery
Each stage involves collaboration between families and the care team to ensure individuals with SUD receive effective care and support. Family therapy and other support services at New Found Life prepare families for the responsibility of maintaining lasting sobriety by addressing underlying issues contributing to addictive behaviors.
New Found Life’s Intensive Family Program: Finding Hope and Healing Together
The intensive family program (IFP) at New Found Life offers families the opportunity to collaborate with addiction and mental health professionals. Therapists and counselors provide clients with a safe space to express themselves and explore different aspects of their relationships. Families can support their loved ones while learning positive ways to cope with the realities of addiction treatment and recovery.
Setting Healthy Boundaries: Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Treatment programs teach clients to set clear boundaries with family members to ensure relationships remain healthy. Recovering from substance abuse takes time, and all members of a family unit must find ways to heal from the damage. Boundaries protect people from unintentional harm and create a safe, nurturing environment for healing and growth.
Families benefit from becoming involved in the recovery process. New Found Life encourages clients and their loved ones to explore the 12-Step philosophy and use the Twelve Steps to build healthier relationships. Treatment programs also address the damage caused by chronic substance abuse through family therapy and other services. The care team at New Found Life offers education, strategies for healing, and resources to families struggling with addiction. Treatment programs help clients and their loved ones set realistic expectations for long-term recovery by ensuring they learn practical tools for identifying and addressing issues affecting family relationships. During rehabilitation, families learn to replace maladaptive behaviors with positive alternatives. To learn more, call us today at (562) 434-4060.