When a person battles with addiction, their family members – those who are closest to them – face many emotions that can be characterized almost as feeling as though they’re on a roller coaster. The addicted family member and those within the family may be wondering, “How did this happen?”, “What am I supposed to do?”, “Where does the path lead from here?” or “Will we ever go back to normal?” Family members may begin to question the very stability of their family’s ties, and those families which struggle with communication may find it even more challenging to work through the very raw experience of a loved one’s addiction together.
What family members used to understand about their lives may suddenly be thrown upside down by the throes of addiction and this can cause utter chaos and confusion if the right support isn’t available. Pain, frustration, guilt, anger, sadness, and hopelessness are just a few of the emotions that family members may experience. These feelings may occur separately, or they may happen all at once. Even if a person who’s battled addiction decides to seek help, family members may still face a lot of internal issues that get in the way of their peace and happiness. Some of the struggles a family with an addicted member may face are:
- They may feel untrusting of their loved one because of the addiction
- They may feel as though they can’t trust themselves or their judgment, especially if they didn’t “see” their loved one’s addiction before
- They may blame themselves for feeling as though they perpetuated their loved one’s addiction
- They may question their own role within the family
- They may become overwhelmed by all of the moving pieces that are suddenly shifting
- They may struggle with having to “choose sides,” especially if there is a divide in the family over the question of addiction
If these are the types of issues holding parents, caretakers, and other family members back when it comes to recovery, it can feel as though there’s nothing that will get better. Luckily, that’s not the truth. Aside from support groups for addiction itself, there are similar groups which can be critical in family members’ recovery and health during this challenging time. Programs like Al-Anon, or support groups for loved ones of alcoholics, can be incredibly meaningful for family members who need it.
If your loved one is ready to seek help, please speak with a professional from Alta Loma today.
We offer individualized treatment and recovery care while also understanding the link between mental health and substance abuse. Alta Loma is a world-renowned, Texas state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center exclusively for men. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell, and that’s why we always put the patient first. For more information, call (866) 457-3843 today.
