Drug and alcohol addiction can destroy your closest relationships, especially those with your family. Family therapy can significantly increase your chances of maintaining your sobriety. When you are ready to get help to overcome substance use disorder, look for addiction treatment with family programming in Youngstown.
At Midwest Center at Youngstown, we understand the importance of family programming for recovery. Our family counseling programs can help heal crumbling relationships so you can rely on your family as part of your support system. Call us today at 844.544.0502 to learn more about our family therapy and addiction treatment programs.
How Addiction Impacts Families
Addiction rarely limits its impact to the individual using drugs or alcohol. The people closest to that person, usually the family, often feel the effects as well. As the addiction progresses, their behavior will worsen, and their relationships will suffer accordingly. Here are some examples of how drug or alcohol addiction can put a strain on family relationships:
A shift in responsibilities
The person struggling with addiction may no longer follow through on households obligations. As a result, the remaining family members are forced to step up and take over. This can create resentment and is particularly unhealthy when children have to take on more of an adult role in the household.
Decreased feelings of safety and security
When a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their actions may become erratic and unpredictable. Normally trustworthy people may begin to steal from their family members or become violent toward them. If a parent is the one struggling with addiction, there may also be a fear of their ability to provide for their family if their addiction is severe.
Lack of healthy role models
Children who grow up in households with an addicted parent may not have an adult they can trust to teach them how to navigate life in a healthy manner. This can impact them down the road as adults, and they may be more likely to repeat the behaviors they witnessed growing up.
These are just a few of the ways that addiction impacts family members. Generally, an addiction in the household can affect most areas of family life, including financial, social, and emotional.
The Importance of Family Therapy
Family therapy is generally offered as part of the program when someone enrolls in addiction treatment. One cannot overestimate the importance of family programming for healing. Family counseling sessions provide many benefits that are necessary for a successful recovery.
Even if there are no obvious strained relationships in your family, family counseling can help uncover family members’ underlying issues and denial in response to the addiction. The importance of family therapy for addiction lies in its ability to:
- Identify how addiction has affected each family member
- Bring to light unhealthy behavior patterns that have contributed to or exacerbated the addiction
- Help family members move past bitterness and resentment and move on to mutually supportive relationships with one another
- Teach family members healthy ways to support one another without enabling the addiction
- Allow each family member the opportunity to feel heard
- Teach family members healthy coping skills and communication skills
Family therapy and addiction treatment can bring much-needed change to your family, so you can all move on toward a happier, healthier life together. Healing these relationships is crucial for lasting recovery.
Midwest Center at Youngstown: Your Family Therapy and Addiction Resource
At Midwest Center at Youngstown, we pride ourselves on providing a full continuum of care through evidence-based mental health and addiction treatment. We understand the importance of family therapy and ensure that your family will be given the opportunity to heal together from addiction. Call us today at 844.544.0502 to learn more about our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.