The family is one of the most important social units in the world. It is an effective source of encouragement and forms the bedrock of all other relationships we develop in life. We can also rely on our families to be there for us whenever we pass through challenges. If they need external guidance to support us correctly, an experienced family therapist can help.
There are many reasons why a family may need therapy in Raleigh, North Carolina. One of them is to facilitate an alcohol rehabilitation program. It helps the family deal with challenges that arise from substance abuse and addiction together instead of individually.
Substance abuse means using drugs in ways that negate their purposes. The most commonly abused drugs include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and specific prescription medications. Many times, substance abuse degenerates into an addiction.
While substance abuse and drug addiction directly affect the users adversely, they can also take their toll on their families. In this article, we’ll show you how family therapy helps to deal with such challenges.
What Does Family Therapy Addiction Recovery Mean?
There are many ways a family member’s substance misuse disorder can affect the rest of the household. However, when the challenges become too much to handle, family therapy helps to address and manage them.
Family therapy in drug abuse and addiction cases is an aspect of a comprehensive drug rehabilitation program. It allows families to sit together at least once a week and discuss how substance abuse has affected their lives. An experienced drug abuse and addiction therapist supervises the sessions and asks open-ended questions to encourage conversation.
The primary difference between individual therapy and family therapy is the presence of an affected close-knit group. Instead of focusing on a person, the therapist considers the family’s interdependent needs and goals. As a result, family therapy is pretty effective because of the family’s support among themselves.
Here’s what to expect in a family therapy session:
- The therapist explains the situation of things to the family members
- The therapist asks the family members their opinions concerning the problem
- Family members share details about how they’ve coped with the problem
- The therapist drafts a treatment plan based on the family members’ responses
How Does Substance Abuse and Addiction Affect the Family?
One person’s substance abuse affects the family in many ways:
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Increased Stress
When a family member abuses substances, they’re typically unable to perform their domestic responsibilities efficiently. This forces other household members to take on more tasks than they should. Taking over the extra responsibilities can take its toll on them, stress them out, and reduce their quality of life.
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Physical and Emotional Abuse
Drug abusers are also likely to physically and emotionally abuse people around them. The problem makes them act irrationally, especially at the peak of the substance’s intoxication.
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Financial Challenges
If the abuser is the family’s breadwinner, it can quickly cause financial problems in the home. Many times, substance addicts allocate most of their money on financing their unhealthy habits at the expense of their family’s needs. Conversely, where the drug abuser is not a financial member of the family, managing their addiction adds to the family’s expenses.
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Fear, Worry, and Confusion
Since drug abusers tend to act out at any time, it leaves the family members tense. No one knows when the next episode will occur. No one knows how dangerous the new outbursts will be compared to previous ones.
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Impact on Children
Children from homes with a history of substance abuse are vulnerable to numerous vices. They can quickly pick up dangerous behaviors and become addicts too.
Essential Benefits of Family Therapy in Addiction Treatments
Here’s how family therapy helps abusers and their families overcome drug addiction and abuse:
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It Prevents More Substance Abuse Problems
Family therapy helps families get better from when they commence the program. It ensures that the problems they’re experiencing don’t worsen.
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The Family Communicates Better
It enhances communication between family members. This ensures that they can understand each other and offer solutions to their problems without conflict.
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They Discover Negative Behavioral Patterns and Address Them
Another advantage of enhanced communication is that hidden behavioral patterns become glaring. That’s an essential step towards healing and family restoration.
Visit Our Carolina Recovery Center in Raleigh Now!
Dealing with a family member’s substance abuse can be traumatic. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. With help from an experienced family therapist, you can overcome your family’s challenges while supporting the abuser’s rehabilitation too. So take this all-important step for your family immediately. Visit our Carolina Recovery Center in Raleigh immediately.
