Drug addiction is incredibly hurtful when it comes to a family. It has a profound effect on each person, near and afar. It alters the dynamics and makes healing difficult if the abuser does not want to heal from their disease. So, what do you do? How do you move forward and make sure your loved one is cared for? Today we are going to talk about the importance of interventions, a supportive network, and what you can moderately expect to experience on this journey.
When Should an Intervention Take Place?
Perhaps you walked in on your family member engaging in drug use. Or you found drugs in the car or home. No matter how you know they are hooked on drugs, the important part is for them to acknowledge that they do, in fact, have a problem. Without admitting there is a problem, efforts to get clean will be futile. Often when you confront the abuser, you will find that they will deny until the cows come home. It’s in the addict’s nature to maintain that they are in control and not harming themselves. And when close family members step forward to speak the truth, they will fight it tooth and nail no matter what. This is where an intervention with a trained professional can be a huge benefit to you and your family.
An intervention with a counselor is vital to keeping things on task. They allow the drug addict to speak and allow concerned family and friends to speak while keeping the focus on the harm the drug addict is inflicting on themselves. Most interventions with a counselor are highly successful and can lead to creating a plan of care for the addict as well as for the family. Sometimes these sessions lead to stays in rehabilitation centers like Hotel California By the Sea.
Support Aids in Recovery
Regardless of who or what has happened prior to the efforts to clean up, an addict needs a support system. One that makes every effort to help them on their journey, without enabling their behaviors. When an addict feels all alone, they are less likely to make the effort as their self-worth diminishes (if it hasn’t already completely disappeared). This is especially true for teenage addicts. Teenagers haven’t finished developing yet and their hormonal influxes add to their struggle rather than help. Peer groups are often helpful for teens as they can relate better to what they are going through.
It’s important to note that family and friends of a drug addict also need support. It’s not easy to sit by and watch a loved one destroy their life. It’s not easy to watch them struggle through the recovery process. It’s highly encouraged that everyone seeks out a support group, such as Nar-Anon, to help you through the process. As stated before, a drug addiction affects everyone around the drug addict!
What is Happening?
The short answer is a lot. This is not an easy chapter in life, but it gets easier as time goes by. Nor does it ever really end. Someone with 20 years clean and sober still must work their “program” to continue staying that way. But what can you expect? To start with, lots of ups and downs riddled with emotions. Drug addicts are often suppressing their feelings and once they are off the drugs, those emotions come bubbling to the surface. There will be times of intense joy and then moments of intense sadness. There will be outbursts and apologies. They will do well and suddenly they will relapse for a short time. All addicts suffer in similar ways but none have the same path.
Recovery from a drug addiction is a difficult one. But do understand, many people do recover. Do what you can to support. Do seek out counseling and guidance to ensure that you are not enabling bad behavior. Do take a vacation from the issue on occasion.
Leave A Comment