Families Need Recovery, Too
Substance Use Disorder affects one’s body, mind, and soul—but the damage doesn’t end there. Families and friends also suffer as their loved one’s dependency progresses, stress builds, and communication starts to break down. Families need to recover from the disease, too.
It is not uncommon for family members to feel imprisoned by this disease. As destructive, self-defeating behaviors increase, family members and those in active use alike shift into survival mode, in an attempt to make it through another day of ever-worsening problems.
As this process occurs, it becomes more difficult to have honest communication and maintain a sense of self. Intimacy and closeness are replaced by fear and loneliness. Family members focus on what they can do to control the situation and begin to accept their loved one’s responsibilities in an attempt to help. Dreams fade, resentment builds, trust disappears, and hope dims.
Sound familiar? If you’re a family member struggling with a loved one suffering from substance use disorder, here are some steps you can take now to begin your own recovery:
- Learn about the disease, including the effect it has had on family members.
- Take responsibility for your choices.
- Develop and set healthy boundaries.
- Allow, and respect, your loved ones need to take responsibility for their choices and actions.
- Accept your situation in an honest, realistic, and loving way.
- Reach out for help and learn from others’ experiences through community support networks like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.
- Give yourself credit for slow, steady progress.
- Understand there are no quick fixes!
Many people have broken free from the isolation and oppression that substance use disorder can bring. Treatment centers, therapy, and community self-help groups offer opportunities to learn more about the disease, yourself, and how to live a more fulfilling life instead of just surviving.
About Fellowship Hall
Fellowship Hall is a 99-bed, private, not-for-profit alcohol and drug treatment center located on 120 tranquil acres in Greensboro, N.C. We provide treatment and evidence-based programs built upon the Twelve-Step model of recovery. We have been accredited by The Joint Commission since 1974 as a specialty hospital and are a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers. We are committed to providing exceptional, compassionate care to every individual we serve.