6 Ways that Family Therapy Can Help Enhance Your Recovery from an Addiction
But it is not just the addict who suffers from the turmoil of addiction. Family members are often also negatively affected.
Why Choose Family Therapy When Dealing With Addiction?
Think of your family unit as a piece of machinery. If one bolt or vent breaks down, the rest of the machine feels the effects.
Family therapy is a way in which the entire family can heal from addiction while also supporting the recovery of the addict.
Here are six benefits of including family therapy in addiction treatment:
1) It can help an addict decide to enter or stay in rehabilitation treatments
We know it takes an army to fight such a crippling disease such as addiction. Sometimes, the choice to enter rehabilitation or stay in a treatment program can be a difficult one to make on our own, especially since addictions often strip us of a sense of control over ourselves. Family therapy provides a space to make healthy decisions with the support of others.
2) It can reduce the likelihood of relapse
Maybe you or your loved one is newly sober. Or, perhaps you or your loved one have been sober for years. The struggle to give into an addiction never leaves us but is overcome with the constant support of the people we love. Attending family therapy consistently reinforces the courage and strength to fight addiction and stay clean.
3) It promotes better recovery
The recovery process is painful in one way because it reminds us of what all we have sacrificed or lost. Some but not all of these losses include physical health, mental health, familial relationships, professional opportunities, and monetary stability.
Recovery is not just about getting clean, but also mending the physical and emotional tolls of addiction. A better recovery is one that helps heal all the areas of your life that have been affected by addiction. That is where family therapy works to enhance the process. It allows for the addict to repair their relations alongside healing their bodily and mental health.
4) It reduces the burden of stress that other family members may feel
You need sturdy support beams to build a house. Healing from an addiction is not only strenuous for the individual but also for those that are supporting that person through their recovery.
This additional stress on family members can take a physical and emotional toll and subsequently negatively impact the recovery of the person suffering from addiction. Family therapy helps relieve that burden and gives family members tools and support to stay strong.
5) It prevents additional family members from turning to drugs or alcohol
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of addiction because they learn coping methods primarily from their parents and other members of the home. Early intervention with family therapy can help prevent other family members from using harmful substances.
6) It can improve how the family behaves and interacts
One of the greatest threats of addiction is its ability to impact the way a family interacts and behaves towards one another. Children may begin to misbehave in order to gain attention, couples can become resentful of one another, and the family as a whole can grow apart. Family therapy helps to mend these relationships and teach healthy ways of coping with addiction and the recovery process.
Recovering from an addiction is a continuous process that requires patience and diligence, but it is usually not something we can do alone. Family therapy is an essential step towards healing from the devastating effects of addiction. The entire family benefits from the advice and support they receive, ultimately leading to a more prosperous recovery.
