If you are reading this, chances are that your loved one is either in treatment now or is about to be. The important thing to remember is that your loved one is getting the help they need, and now you want to look at where you fit into that journey. Whether you are a family member or friend, you have your own set of challenges that you must overcome. Addiction affects the whole family, not just the person who is addicted. Therefore, it is important that each person see how they have been affected by all that has happened, and then start to look at how they can start to heal from it as individuals and as a family.
When a loved one suffers from addiction, it is common to experience a roller coaster of emotions and maybe even struggle with feeling guilt. Many loved ones of addicts suffer with the feeling that they are partially to blame for the addiction, but there is no point in wasting time on self-blame or even the blaming of others. There are so many factors at play when it comes to an individuals’ addiction that there is never a simple answer to the question “why?”.
It is easy to get upset or even angry with your loved one. While this is understandable given all the fallout that happens around addiction, it does not help anyone involved. This does not mean you have to pretend they did nothing wrong, only that there will be a time a place to address these hurts in a constructive manner. It can be helpful to get the facts about addiction, including understanding that addiction is a disease that affects the health of the body and the mind. This can help to explain their actions and move you toward forgiveness in order for the both of you to heal.
Here are some tips and ways that you can support your loved one in treatment.
Participate on Family Days
Participating in the family days and family counseling offered by your loved one’s treatment center can be pivotal in being a part of the healing for both you and your loved one. By simply being there, you’re showing your loved one that you are there to support them and you are willing to be a part of their new life.
Each weekend, Windmill Wellness Ranch holds family workshops for the loved ones of those going through treatment with us. This allows our clients and their families to work through how addiction has affected them together as a unit and allows them work together on the road to recovery. The workshop happens each week for our current and alumni clients and their families in a hybrid (in-person and online) format. Once you are part of the Windmill family, you are free to come back anytime to get family workshop support for yourself and your loved ones.
Find Resources and Support
As we mentioned before, addiction affects the whole family, not just the person who is addicted. Therefore, the addicted individual is not the only one who can benefit from having a support network. Families and loved ones of addicts may mind if helpful to connect with others who have gone through a similar experience.
Family recovery fellowships are a prime way to find others who have gone through similar experiences and learned how to navigate them. These groups are free, and they are run by and for family members of those with addiction and other mental health issues. They all have websites, most have online and phone meetings, many publish books and pamphlets, and many have in-person meetings available, depending on where you live.
Here is a list to explore so that you don’t have to do this alone:
Recovery fellowships for family members:
Windmill Wellness Ranch holds a SMART Recovery Family & Friends meeting each week for our current and alumni clients and their families, in a hybrid (in-person and online) format.
Focus On Yourself
We have seen over and over that the most helpful thing you can do for your loved one is to work on your own recovery.
To some, this may sound selfish, but you cannot stay strong for others unless you are truly taking care of yourself first. Once your loved one has entered treatment, you must focus on rebuilding your own life. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, taking care of yourself with proper diet and exercise, getting support, and socializing with close friends.
Let your loved one focus on their healing while you focus on yours.
One of the first and biggest steps to helping a loved one is offering up your support for their decision to get treatment. From there, offering strength and compassion on the long journey ahead can make all the difference in their recovery and yours.
Have a loved one in need of
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Created specifically for those who have loved ones that struggle with addiction.