Family Recovery

Naturally when most people think of family their first instinct is to think of their blood relatives. But in my world I like to imagine a broader definition; people in your life who love and support you unconditionally, who will help you through all of your struggles, the good and the bad and will be there to give you tough love in your darkest times of need.

When dealing with addiction recovery it is so important that the family network is educated and aware of their role in the recovery process. Often times the cycle of addiction becomes a vicious one of the family enabling the addict and allowing them selves to be manipulated.
By simply giving money for groceries or bills you often times are supporting their addiction blindly. No one wants to believe that they are helping their child, brother or friend in carrying on a habit that is slowly killing them, but unfortunately sometimes you can do this unknowingly.

That is why family recovery becomes such an important factor in the process of the individual’s recovery as a whole. It is not about being a friend and apologizing to them for getting them help. Actually in most cases it is about forcing yourself to stop helping them. The harsh reality is unless they come to ask you for treatment they are most liking going to be very angry with you that you are questioning their unhealthy habits. The best thing any family can do in this situation is to grow a very strong backbone and face the issue head on.

It is very hard for some families to call their loved one an “addict” and is even harder to realize this will be a lifelong battle. The words “drug addict” and “alcoholic” have a ridiculously bad stigma placed upon them to society and people are simply afraid to use it in fear of being judged or are still in denial. Just because you have this disease does not mean you or your loved one is a BAD person! Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate just like any other illness and it takes no prisoners.

The sooner the family recovery process begins, the better for everyone. Take initiative to look for signs of addiction if you are suspicious and worried. If there is out of the ordinary behavior such as sleeping all day, not eating or your loved one becomes introverted and closed off. Don’t be afraid to ask them what is going on? Never be embarrassed or ashamed to seek out help to educate yourself and the family network because you very well could be saving their life. If there is life, there is still hope for your loved one’s recovery.