Millions of Americans know someone who struggles with addiction. Whether a friend or family member, chances are you may have a loved one suffering from addiction. According to Pew Research, nearly 46% of U.S. adults report having a close family member or friend addicted to drugs. It can be extremely difficult watching a loved one struggle with addiction. So much so that it can significantly interfere with your own health and well-being.
In this article, you’ll learn about different resources for families of addicts that are available to help you not only find support for what you’re going through but learn ways you can help and better understand what your family member is going through. At Hammocks On the Edisto, we are a women’s treatment center in South Carolina committed to providing comprehensive addiction treatment to help women overcome addiction for good. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead a happier, healthier life.
5 Resources for Families of Addicts
It can be challenging watching a loved one struggle with addiction. There is various addiction support for families that offer guidance on how to help their family members struggling with addiction while also maintaining their own mental health and well-being.
Attend Family Therapy Sessions
Family therapy sessions are a great opportunity for both an addict and their family to sit down and discuss openly about an addict’s struggles, and how they may be negatively impacting the family. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to talk openly and honestly about how you truly feel about watching your loved one struggling with addiction. Therefore, this causes many family members to say nothing and hold in their thoughts and feelings about their loved one struggling with addiction.
Family therapy sessions provide a safe space and a chance for family members to communicate their feelings openly and grow support in helping their loved one battling addiction.
Join Support Groups
There are a variety of support groups for families of addicts. Support groups offer the opportunity to connect with other families who can understand and relate to what your family is going through, as they are likely going through a similar situation within their own family. Not only do family support groups build a sense of understanding and connection, but they allow your family to open up and talk honestly about how they’ve been feeling watching their loved one fall victim to addiction.
Attend Private Therapy Sessions
Watching a family member struggle with addiction can be harmful to your own mental health and well-being. Oftentimes, many family members may feel guilty for not being able to help their loved one become sober. Therefore, private therapy sessions offer the ability for a family member to talk with a mental health professional about what they’re going through and navigate these negative feelings of guilt and shame in a healthy manner.
Research Online About Addiction
It’s also important to understand addiction and what your family member is going through. Therefore, consider researching online and learning more about addiction. Addiction is not a matter of having enough willpower to quit, nor is addiction a sign of weakness. Consider researching and learning more about your family member’s addiction online. For example, if you have a family member who is an alcoholic, research online and read up on different resources for alcoholics families.
Professional Intervention
You should never feel like you are solely responsible for helping your loved one seek treatment and maintain sobriety. Some addicts are typically in denial about their addiction, thus making it difficult to convince your loved one to seek treatment. Therefore, professional interventionists help families sit down and facilitate the process of helping their loved one seek addiction treatment.
Top-Rated Women’s Addiction Treatment in South Carolina
It can be difficult watching your family member struggle with addiction. There are a variety of resources for families of addicts available to help you find support to maintain your own mental health and well-being while also learning ways in which you can help your family member seek treatment. At Hammocks on the Edisto, we are a women’s only facility that offers a range of addiction treatment programs for addicts to safely and effectively overcome addiction and maintain a long-term life of sobriety.
Are you or someone you know battling addiction? Contact us to learn how you can start your recovery journey today.