Many of us would like to think that we are strong enough to stop an addiction on our own. That is a lie we often give in to every time we have tried to quit and failed. While drug substance abuse treatment gives you the care you need for recovery, an essential element in getting better is family support. This can happen within the context of a Portland drug abuse treatment center.
Your family has been involved with your addiction from the very beginning. As such, they may be the only close connection you have that can help you get clean and stay clean. Substance users that have a supportive family are more likely to keep from relapsing.
Understanding Family Dysfunction in Addiction
Things that families often take for granted slowly disintegrate one by one as an addiction gets worse. Also, problems start to surface that can harm the family dynamic.
You may have at one time enjoyed conversation, spending time together, frequent meals, and family vacations. Addiction can destroy all of these elements of a healthy relationship. Before you know it, you are experiencing harmful aspects such as:
- Everybody seems to have secrets – especially the person suffering from the addiction
- Fear and paranoia can come from violence, unpredictable behavior, or waiting for negative consequences to arise
- Conflict becomes the centerpiece as everyone seems to argue all the time
- Role reversal happens when dependents suddenly become primary caregivers or financial providers
- Mental and emotional disorders start to develop – depression, anxiety, separation, and dependency on prescription medications
How You Recover Together
The first thing you learn during recovery is how to reconnect and recover together as a family. For this to happen, everyone needs to agree that there are problems that must be resolved. If anyone is in denial – including the user – then some issues may never be resolved. As a result, unresolved family problems can lead to relapse.
Healing does not mean just getting clean. It means addressing the underlying issues in your and your family and then working together to resolve them. This must be a team effort for true recovery to occur.
Family Therapy: Encouragement and Support
During addiction, it is easy to for everyone in the family to point the finger at each other and assign blame. Much of the anger and blame may be targeted toward the person suffering from the addiction.
Evidence-based therapy and holistic treatment can help you go from fighting with one another to providing endless support and encouragement. Creating a positive and encouraging environment will go a lot further in helping you overcome addiction. When everyone learns to have a more positive mindset, then you can grow together and rebuild your home.
A Portland Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Addiction affects the entire family. So, if you need help overcoming substance, contact a Portland drug abuse treatment center. Your road to recovery from addiction starts now.