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You may have heard that alcoholism and drug addiction are considered a family disease, but what does that actually mean and how does addiction affect you and those you love? That is exactly what we are about to go over so that you are not only armed with the facts, but provided a solution to help the whole family recover.

Addiction Is A Family Disease

First, let’s look at addiction as a disease, and why it’s considered one.

The disease of addiction is considered a disease because it is considered a primary, chronic illness of the brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry, according to American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

How Does Addiction Affect You?

Addiction affects you and your loved ones in a few ways and those that are closet to the addict/alcoholic suffer the most. Here are some ways that the active addict/alcoholic in your life may be making you sick.

1. They may lie, manipulate, steal, or become emotionally and physically abusive.
2. You may become focused on them and the desire to “fix” or “cure” them of their addiction.
3. You may find yourself trying to control them and their actions.
4. You may become filled with guilt, shame, and blame as a result of their actions.
5. You ultimately become addicted to the addict/alcoholic and then co-dependency consumes your relationship with them.

As a result, the stress that is associated with addiction in the family becomes all-consuming and starts to take a toll on you both mentally and physically to the point that you forgot about your boundaries and what is even healthy anymore. The alcoholic/addicts life becomes your life, too. The only way out, is through working a program yourself.

Healing From Their Addiction

Al-Anon and Nar-Anon is the sister program to the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and can help you heal and recover from the family disease of addiction. This is crucial because if you are not healthy, you can’t expect the addict or alcoholic in your life to get healthy either. If you really feel like your life has become out of control because of this disease, then the time to get help is now. Please check out the websites below and see if you are ready to begin your journey to healing.

Al-Anon.org

Nar-Anon.org

Still need extra help for the active addict or alcoholic in your life? Click here: Contact The Watershed

 

Addiction affects the entire family, so it would not be unheard of if you got sick from your loved ones drug or alcohol use. This is why we refer to addiction as being a “family disease,” but just what do we mean by that, how could this be affecting your loved ones recovery, and can you fix it?

Addiction Is A Family Disease

It is sometimes difficult to believe that you could get sick from your loved ones actions – especially addiction. You aren’t abusing drugs or alcohol, so how could you be sick from this disease? These are the questions that many family members have and they are valid questions which we hope we can answer in this article.

You see, when someone in your life that is close to you is suffering from the disease of addiction they act out in destructive behaviors that can drain you emotionally, financially, and physically. Your mental and physical health will start to suffer from the stress, and by the time you may realize that something is wrong, the damage is already done. Here are some many problems you may be struggling with as a result of your loved ones addiction and it is these things that are hurting their recovery, as well as yours.

Co-Dependency

Being entirely dependent on your loved ones happiness for your own is pretty normal when it comes to an addiction in the family. You may believe that you are somehow to blame for their addiction. Maybe if you showed them love more or if you saw the signs of any other mental health issues prior, then you could have stopped it, but we can’t prevent addiction all the time, even if you think you could have caught it early. Many times that co-dependency leads to people pleasing and not setting healthy boundaries. In more dangerous cases you may buy your loved one drugs or alcohol, give them money for it, or try preventing them from going to rehab or taking them out of treatment because you can’t stand to see them suffer.  We have seen this many times and this action has the power to destroy someone’s recovery.  Your loved one will most likely not want to be in recovery or treatment for their addiction, so they will do whatever it takes to get you to do what they want you to do. Remember, at this point, they are really good at manipulating you, so you have to be strong and not allow them to use you to get what their disease wants.  We are an accredited and licensed treatment center that has been open since 1998, and we want to see your loved one recover, so do not sabotage their chances by pulling them out too early because they told you they hate it, they hate the staff, it’s horrible, etc…these are the excuses that an addict or alcoholic will give you so they can go get drunk or high, even if they don’t know that is what they are trying to do. Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful and will manipulate you and your loved one to get its fix.

Enabling

Many find themselves obsessed to trying to save their loved one from addiction. It can be difficult to see the difference between enabling and supporting your loved one when you are in the middle of it. Enabling is an action that hurts both you and them and can spotted easier when you really step back, listen to suggestions from professionals, and set healthy boundaries. If you are paying for their habit, buying their way out of legal troubles, and allowing them to stay with you while they use or drink, then you just might be enabling their addiction. If you are helping them find and go to treatment, encourage 12-step meetings, and other therapeutic means for recovery, then this would more likely fall under support. The best way to tell if you are supporting vs. enabling is by being honest with your supports, professionals, and with yourself.  Try going to Al-Anon or Nar-Anon for extra help, so that you are not alone as you navigate this process.

Recovery Is A Process

Recovery is a process taken one day at a time, so be patient with yourself and your loved one. The less you try to control, the better you actually may be. Taking care of you by going to your support meetings, talking to addiction professionals, seeing therapy, taking up exercise and healthy eating, or just putting your focus on you could help more than you know. As hard as it is, please try not to disrupt your loved ones recovery by engaging in co-dependent or enabling behaviors, so that everyone has the opportunity to heal.

If your loved one is in treatment with us, recently left, or needs treatment, please give us a call at 877-975-4837. We understand the disease of addiction and can help guide your through your specific situation. You are not alone and we are here to help.

 

Being a parent, or loved of one, of an addict or alcoholic who is in active addiction or early recovery can be overwhelming. The constant worry and fears, the failed attempts at getting them to see the damage they are causing, financial drain, and emotional breakdowns are just a few of the examples of what it is like. The truth is though, if you have not had to experience it, you will never know. If you have, then you know all too well, and finding useful and helpful information to help you deal with these issues can be just as difficult. Fortunately, we have gathered a lot of great information for you that will not only help you help them, but also help you heal, too.

Please take a moment to read each of these articles below. If you still have questions or need advice/help, feel free to contact us on Facebook, send us a message, and connect with one of our amazing Watershed Recovery staff members for support.

Recovery Resources For Loved Ones

Definition of Alcoholism: What Is An Alcoholic?

ASAM: Addiction Is A Disease

Alcohol Is Not The Alcoholics Problem

Addictive Drugs: Which Prescription Drugs Are Addictive?

Suicide Prevention: Know The Signs

The 5 Stages of Recovery from Addiction

To The Parents Of An Addict Or Alcoholic

Enabling & Loving Your Addict/Alcoholic To Death

Enabling The Personality Of An Addict/Alcoholic

How To Heal From My Loved One’s Addiction

Addiction Affects The Whole Family

You are not alone and the most important thing you can do when helping your loved one who may be in or out of addiction, is to take care of you, too.

Make sure you are attending a 12-Step fellowship specifically designed for those who are affected by addiction: Al-Anon (sister program of Alcoholics Anonymous) or Nar-Anon (sister program of Narcotics Anonymous).

Also, don’t forget to ask for help, take suggestions, and allow professionals to guide you. Doing this alone can cause more harm to the whole family, so be sure to gather as much support as you can.

Each person’s journey is unique and different, but these articles can at least help guide you in the right direction.  The best advice we can give you is to never give up, gather as much support as you can, and ask/reach out for help. You are not alone and you are deserving of healing as well.

We are always here for you 24/7. Chat Live or call us now at 1-877-975-4837 for support, information, or help.

 

 

The serenity prayer isn’t just for those in recovery; it can work for you, too.

Related: 5 Truths From The Serenity Prayer That Offer Wisdom In The Modern Age

The Serenity Prayer

Peace of mind

The words in the serenity prayer allow individuals sanctuary as they submit to their own conception of faith to release worry over any arising trials and tribulations that they may be headed into for that day.

Helps with acceptance

The phrasing of the prayer ignites acceptance. The importance in letting go of what cannot be changed in an individual’s life is loud and clear while it highlights what can and should be. The individual is encouraged to make the effort to rectify harm wherever possible by doing so.

Allows humility to take place

It comes in handy when you are coping with an addict or alcoholic. It helps to remind you that you cannot fix anyone. You are only human.

Raises the spirit

Empowerment is also demonstrated in the prayer. When an individual recites the prayer, phrases accentuate how crucial it is for an individual to be “living one day at a time” because the past has already gone and the future hasn’t yet occurred, so all the individual has is what is currently ongoing. This can provide hope as they surrender toward the “pathway to peace.”

Builds courage and strength

As with affirmations, the repetition of prayers can be similar. When an individual recites repetitively, they may notice built up positive feelings, like courage. Strength can be brought over time. It works the same as it would if they were to look in the mirror, tell themselves they are a strong, resilient individual, and start to believe it.

Provides wisdom from a greater place

The serenity prayer can bring wisdom. Being able to recite this every day can help remind the individual to be aware of what specific areas the individual does and does not have the ability to control.

Equality

The serenity prayer teaches stabilization and equivalence in the world. The prayer explains that where there is wrong, there is also good, which is how there is balance in the world and a sense of gratitude to be understood. Serenity can teach these valuable lessons.

Ease and comfort

When you really hear the words to the prayer it brings great comfort. The idea and full understanding that you cannot control everything is freeing.

Spiritual growth

The prayer teaches individuals about principles that relates to heavy themes about holding faith, gratitude, serenity, and trust. These are important and central topics ascertaining to ethics and morals leading to enhancing one’s spirituality.

Feeds faith

Just as reciting the serenity prayer can further spiritual growth, it can additionally heighten faith. When stressed out or in doubt, try meditation and the practice of reciting the serenity prayer over and over again until all the negative thoughts and doubts have slowed down.

Need to talk to someone about your loved ones addiction? Click Here.

There’s nothing more defeating than feelings of guilt. The relationship that guilt has with shame, avoidance, and denial is dominating, especially when it comes to dealing with an active addict or alcoholic.

Stop Feeling Guilty

It’s safe to assume nearly all people who deal with a suffering addict/alcoholic can relate to feelings of guilt. It can be painful to literally watch your loved one kill themselves with drugs or alcohol, but it’s important to understand that you cannot save your loved one without help and their disease is not your fault.

Stop Feeling Shameful

Your loved one is suffering from the disease of addiction. They are not abusing drugs or alcohol because you failed or because they lack morals. They are abusing substances because they have a progressive brain disease and body allergy that makes them crave more even when they don’t want to. Understanding this fact is the first step towards healing for you and your family.

Stop Enabling

You can show your loved one support without enabling their drug or alcohol addiction. Providing them with resources to help get clean and sober are excellent ways to helping them recover.

Stop Living In Denial

If you know your loved one is abusing substances, stop pretending they aren’t or ignoring the facts. They are most likely in denial themselves and need someone to help guide them towards recovery and treatment, so arm yourself with all the facts to help them do just that.

It is true that an addict and alcoholic has to want recovery more than those who want it for them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t support them in the right direction and let them know that there is hope and healing when they are ready to give up the fight of addiction.

For more information on how you can help your loved one recovery, contact us now!

 

There are different types of intervention strategies that depend on the addict/alcoholic in question and what their needs may be. These strategies can range from unstructured counseling and feedback – (which can be done by friends, families and support networks), to more formalized structured therapy – (which is going to involve intervention, therapeutic and addiction professionals. To learn more about getting an interventionist call 1-877-97-LIVES or go to livesinrecovery.com and click on the Alumni Crisis Referral Helpline to chat with one of our professional Admission Coordinators). Brief interventions are: Time limited; Directed towards a specific goal; and Are structured. The main goal is to have the addict/alcoholic themselves to accept responsibility for their own recovery. (It must be understood however, that brief interventions are NOT a replacement for specialized care of high level chemical dependency that is found in formal structured therapy.) Brief interventions are used to encourage people to attend 12-step meetings and to seek treatment if needed.

How To Have An Intervention 

A successful intervention will follow a specific plan of action and will include timeline goals to achieve change with regards to specific behaviors. An effective interventionist will assess the addicted person’s readiness and willingness to change. A strategic plan will be developed to assist the addict/alcoholic in progressing to the next level and will implement that strategy. Below you will find 10 steps to take that will enable you to be as prepared as possible for performing an intervention with the support of family, friends, co-workers or other important people in the addict/alcoholics life:

1. Define the purpose of the planned talk so that everyone involved understands; Set up a time to meet with the  addict/alcoholic to talk, and use the meeting to help the addict/alcoholic understand the reason that the intervention is being done.
2. Raise awareness of addict/alcoholic’s personal health. (You will use known information about the effects of the chemical that they are using, as well as information the family, friends, doctor – may be able to provide of their current physical status.)
3. You will want to determine the level of substance abuse, so that you know what you are dealing with. (You will either have your own information gained through your personal relationship with the addict/alcoholic or information shared by their family & friends, of the person’s addiction history/behavior), along with what the addict/alcoholic share themselves in the intervention – to establish the level of their addiction.
4. Actively listen to what feedback you get from the addict/alcoholic and direct it towards the purpose of your talk with them.
5. Help the addicted person to weigh for themselves the costs and the benefits of staying in their current lifestyle and in changing their current lifestyle.
6. Offer the addict/alcoholic positive change alternatives and options – which could range from going to meetings, getting treatment, participating in an IOP, moving into a recovery house program to get a solid footing or a combination of these.
7. Identify potential change strategies such as: Achieving a behavior change with a plan to accomplish it; A change through brief treatment, long-term treatment or through self-help attendance; and Define how these can be accomplished.
8. Help the addict choose the most appropriate change strategy for them by assisting them with awareness to cost information, insurance options, family support for pets, bills, etc. – if they were to go away for a while, transportation and so on. (See Addiction Intervention Outline for what steps will need to have already been taken.)
9. Reinforce personal decisions made by the addict/alcoholic by repeating the goals and outcomes to be expected.
10. Schedule a follow up talk to track their progress. This can be in the form of a face-to-face meeting, a phone  call, email or Face Time.

Addiction Intervention Outline

Contact family, friends, co-workers, doctor, clergy, employer and any other important people in the alcoholic-addict’s life that would be willing to participate.

Communicate with each person who will be participating in the intervention, for each to prepare a “non-accusatory” statement that tells the addict/alcoholic of the good traits and characteristics that they possess when not under the influence, as well as factual observations of the addict/alcoholic while using and/or drinking. The statement should also include how much the person writing deeply cares for the addict/alcoholic and expressing that their motivation to participate in the intervention was to encourage them to accept the help that has become available to them.

It is suggested that all those participating in the Intervention meet at least once before the actual intervention to rehearse what they will say, make any necessary edits in order to eliminate content that may become repetitive or confrontational.

Remember, the goal is to just get them to become willing to receive help.

Discuss w/ those involved the plan, ability and/or system for payment of any known costs such as detoxification fees, treatment fees, and transportation costs. You will need to know what insurance is available, what finances the addict/alcoholic has to use and what, (if any), financial support the family is willing to offer.

Contact The Watershed by calling 1-877-97-LIVES or go to livesinrecovery.com and click on

Alumni Crisis Referrals to chat with an Admissions Coordinator and begin the process of getting treatment set up for the addict/alcoholic.

Remember that if for whatever reason they can’t be admitted to The Watershed, you will receive assistance from our full time staff in the Resource Department to find treatment that will suite their current financial status/needs.

If possible, have someone pack their belongings for approximately 7 days. If things are moving to fast for that, then clothes and personal items may need to be purchased after they are admitted to treatment. (Most important is to be prepared to seize the opportunity to get them help quickly.)

In the majority of cases, telling the addict or alcoholic “about” an intervention that is about to occur, will most predictably lead to a “no show” on their part. Due to this, you will set up a time and place to meet with them for whatever reason you may give, (other than saying what it is really about). Here is where the group will be assembled and waiting. This may seem a bit like trickery or an ambush…(and it is)…but as a rule, it is the only way and this is about saving their life NOT their feelings.

Most likely when the addict/alcoholic arrives they will be surprised or caught off guard by seeing everyone there. You want to let them know that everyone is there out of love and concern. Ask the addict/alcoholic to just listen with an open mind to what is said and that what they do with it will be totally up to them.

You want to keep in mind that the goal is to get the addict/alcoholic to agree to enter detox. If theyagree to this help, “act quickly”. Let them know about the place that you have set up and that they will be transported directly there. At least 2-3 of those individuals that the addict/alcoholic will listen to and trust, should transport them straight to the facility or to the airport to go to the facility.

If the addict/alcoholic persists in their state of denial, then it will be time for “tough love”. You will, as a group, want to insure that they know the group loves and cares for them regardless of their decision, but that no one in the group will continue to be a part of their addictive lifestyle on any level. Let them know that it is time to part company, and that they are on their own as long as they are choosing to remain in the addictive lifestyle – reminding them one last time of their alternate choice to take the action being given to them.

As long as there is someone willing to bail out the addict/alcoholic from the consequences and wreckage caused by their active addiction and behaviors, they will never change what they are doing. We have to remember that “pain” is a major motivator and is the common factor in the majority of addicted people becoming willing to receive treatment.

Intervention and Addiction Q&A

Who can I call if I have questions about how to talk to someone?

You can call 1-877-97-LIVES or go to livesinrecovery.com to chat with a Watershed Admissions Coordinator with any questions you may have.

Is the addict/alcoholic less likely to do well in recovery if it was a “mandated” situation?

Not at all! The vast majority of people entering treatment are being motivated by “pending consequences” such as jail, potential loss of children, employment, marriage, etc.. Whatever motivates the addict/alcoholic into treatment is fine. The important thing is that they just becoming willing to go.

What causes the most problems for people with addictions with regards to getting help?

People who are suffering from alcoholism and drug addictions are prone to serious denial with regards to their addiction and to the harmful effects of their behavior on themselves and others. (Reasoning with them is often met with denial, rationalization, minimization, justification and defensiveness. Sometimes they will verbally attack the very loved one that is trying to help them.)

If the addict/alcoholic is “REALLY” sorry for what they have done, can’t they just quit?

No matter how sorry they are and how determined they may be – they do not have the power within themselves to stop drinking alcohol or using drugs on their own for any significant length of time.

If the addict/alcoholic has not yet run into “significant” problems such as jail, loss of employment, divorce, etc…, is it possible that it won’t get any worse if they keep using drugs and drinking alcohol?

No it is not possible. Addiction/Alcoholism is a progressive, incurable and fatal disease. As time passes the consequences will come and they will get worse, ultimately ending in jails, institutions and death.

What are some other tips that can help me in facilitating or being a part of an intervention?

Stay calm

Couch your comments

Avoid labeling the person an “alcoholic” or “addict”

Cite specific incidents resulting from the person’s substance abuse (Such as a DUI arrest)

Stick to what you know firsthand, not hearsay

Talk in “I” statements, explaining how the person’s behavior has affected you (When you drive drunk, I don’t sleep all night”)

Be prepared for denial and resentment

Be supportive and hopeful about change

The person I am trying to help is severely addicted and I need a professional interventionist. Can Watershed help me? 

Absolutely! You can call 1-877-97-LIVES or go to livesinrecovery.com , click on the Alumni Crisis Referral Help Line and chat with a professional Admissions Coordinator and let them know that you are in need of an interventionist. Watershed can assist in guiding you in the right direction.

Could sharing your feelings and concerns with the addict/alcoholic in the intervention do more harm than good?

Not if the guidelines are followed. Remember, the intervention is not to “attack” the addicted person…it is to share with them the truth in a way that would motivate them to want help. Many addicted people, when faced with losing important relationships, health or reputation often motivate them to enter treatment.

Are there any addicted/alcoholic people who can get clean and sober without treatment?

An addict/alcoholics ability to recover without treatment varies widely. Some people are however able to get clean/sober and establish a foundation of recovery through prayer, self-help groups, active church/religious participation and supportive people in their life.

How can I best bring the subject up with the person who is currently abusing alcohol and/or drugs?

Don’t bring up the subject of their addiction while they are under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. (The reason being, when the person is under the influence, they have a weekend ability to understand things logically and are more inclined to be dismissive, angry, blaming and impatient. They could also be very irrational and potentially violent.)

DO NOT be under the influence of any chemical substance “yourself” when having this talk.

Set up a time when the two of you can have a good amount of time to be alone. You want to have a “two way” conversation. Even if they want to have the talk “right now”, when there is little time and little privacy, simply set it for a time where both time and privacy will be plentiful.

When you meet, preface the conversation by telling them that you care and that it is out of this care and concern that you are having this conversation.

You will want to share with them the behaviors of concern that you have observed and share the worries that you have with regards to the effect the chemical use is having and could have in the future.

Be sure that this is a “two way” conversation, so that they do not feel that they are being lectured, judged or picked on.

If they tell you that they definitely do NOT have a problem, ask if perhaps you could both speak again at some point down the road. Let them know that while “you” believe there could be a problem, you recognize and appreciate the need to give them the room to think about it.

Don’t attempt to speculate or try to explore what “their motives” are. That can sidetrack you from the main point.

Lastly, don’t expect a HUGE change to occur in how they think or act right away. The conversation that you have with them could be the first time anyone has even suggested they had a problem or that they even considered the thought themselves.

My loved one has relapsed! What does that mean?

Addiction/Alcoholism is a chronic disease and relapses, while not a requirement, are not unusual. If this has happened, DON’T give up hope! This does not mean that they aren’t serious, aren’t trying or that the solution they’ve been given is failing.

If they are in relapse, what can I do?

You have several options. One thing you can do is to contact The Watershed at 1-877-97-LIVES or livesinrecovery.com and click on the Alumni Crisis Referral Helpline to chat with one of our professional Admission Coordinators about treatment at The Watershed or if they can’t come into TWS, you will be able to obtain resources for a facility that can meet the needs of your loved one or friend. You can also get in touch with the self-help group, sponsor or “recovery community” friends that they have trusted and worked with in the past. You will want to prepare to do an intervention again. (The sooner the better!)

I am a teen and the person that I am concerned about is my friend and is also a teen…What do I do if we have talked about it and they are just getting worse?

If this is your friend and you have attempted talking to them about their problem and either they have found that they can’t quit or you have found they are unwilling or unable to quit, then YOU need to take the next step. It is at this point time to bring this issue to your friend’s parents or another supportive adult in your friend’s life, (such as a pastor, coach, doctor, teacher, etc…). It can be a really scary thing, but remember that this is a progressive and fatal illness. Your friend needs help as soon as possible. If you are concerned about how your friend’s parents may react, it may be advisable to take this to your parent(s), school’s counselor or another trusted adult listed above, so that they can speak with your friend’s parents.

“I” feel terrible for my friend and this is ALL really stressing me out and making me feel REALLY bad. What can I do?

Thank goodness that your friend has someone like you who cares so much for them. **Refer to the steps in the above question in how to help your friend** However, you are struggling and it is happening because helping an addict or alcoholic in active addiction is very tough. For “your” own well-being, you need to be talking with and getting support from an adult that you can trust. You should limit the time you spend with the alcoholic/addict friend, because your friend’s chemical use can also put “you” at risk. Once you have taken steps to provide your friend with a solution, (or if a teen) –have involved an adult — start thinking about you and getting out there to do things that you enjoy and that make you happy!

I am the friend or family member of an addict/alcoholic. Where can I go for support and answers to my questions about how to deal with my own feelings, struggles and concerns?

The most advisable places for you to go are Al-Anon/Nar-Anon for friends and family members OR Al-Ateen/Nar-Ateen for the children of alcoholic/addicts – or kids being directly affected by a loved one’s addiction. (In addition to this, there is also Celebrate Recovery, which is a faith based 12 step support group)

How can I find support groups in my area?

You can click on the “Recovery Resources” drop down, click on “Find a Meeting”. With this you can locate Al-Anon/ Nar-Anon/ Al-Ateen or Co-Dependents Anonymous meetings in your area.

If you are a teen, check with your guidance counselor…often times there are actually support groups in the school that are not widely advertised, but exist for kids to find friendship and support among their peers in.

Need help now? Chat Live

© 2016 Rebecca Balko

 

 

The impact of reconnecting with family for an individual who is struggling with an addiction to alcohol and/or drugs can play a critical role that pulls the addict along.  When addicts are active in their disease abusing substances, it’s more likely than not that they turn away from their loved ones and resort to using heavily.  The obsession grows so strong that they begin to struggle with typical daily routine functions.  After coming into recovery and beginning to work on themselves, these individuals may see how rebonding with loved ones like their family has been a gift provided by recovery.

Reconnecting with Family

A great aspect about recovery is that wounds can heal and bonds begin to be reinstated through serious work being done.  When alcoholics and addicts are active in their disease, they display menacing and vile behaviors because they are sick.  In the process of recovery, they have the ability to take an introspective look at their patterns, actions, decisions, and behaviors long enough to think twice about their true motives.  They are no longer running the show and they are fully, entirely aware of this.  This means these individuals can allow other people to become involved in their lives.  They don’t have to do life alone but instead can live their lives together and be involved as a community.  This highlights the importance of reconnecting with family during the process of recovery.  Though not every addicted individual gets their loved one’s unconditional support, it’s special when they are able to bond with their family once again.  The process of reconnecting with family is incredible because it can help motivate the individual when they are struggling most and pull them along during a difficult period of time.

Why is having family involved important?

Reconnecting with family can be helpful because addicts and/or alcoholics require support from loved ones during this strenuous time of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual disruption.  Having family to act as beacon of support can prove to be necessary when an addicted individual is having difficulty combatting their troublesome and anxious nature that is lurking from within.  When active in their disease, these individuals were likely to have kept to themselves and strayed away from pleasurable activities with their loved ones.  Rekindling the lost relationship is one of the best parts about the recovery process because they get to redevelop the relationship with them in the most authentic way.  These individuals get to truly know who their loved ones are instead of having screaming matches with them, taking from them, going against their wishes, sneaking around, or manipulating.  However, families should beware of providing too much help because this can be enabling, which is in return debilitating to their loved one.  Confrontations and interventions have however been proven to be effective when addressing substance use issues.

Reconnecting with family plays a critical and valuable part of the recovery process for addicts and alcoholics who are striving to recover from their addiction.  Addiction has the ability to impact individuals in significant ways so re-establishing relationships like the ones with their family members can prove to enhance their overall well-being and aid in stability.

Is your loved one still struggling with drugs and/or alcohol?  Contact The Watershed now for help.

CHAT LIVE NOW!

 

 

The 4th of July is well on its way and you may be anxious about how the day will go because your loved one is in early recovery for their alcoholism.  Getting information like 4th of July safety tips can benefit you greatly because it can help you notice if the behavior your addicted loved one isn’t quite right.  With this, discovering ways that you can best be supportive instead can also additionally help to ease your own mind as a loved one of an alcoholic so that you can instead provide comfort to them during the holiday that should be spent being present with them.

4th of July Safety Tips

If your loved one is suffering from alcoholism, then the best way you can help show support for them is by learning about their illness.  By understanding what may trigger them during this upcoming 4th of July holiday, you can veer away from presenting them with temptations and instead help them be capable of their full potential.  Getting properly educated about their disease of alcoholism can involve you beginning to know what early warning signs of a drinking relapse may look like.  You might remember what it looked like when they were active in their alcoholism, but you may not know about some of these 4th of July safety tips, precautions, and trigger warnings.

Keep an effective and good line of communication

It shouldn’t come as much surprise that when there is conflict in the family, there is greater possibility of an addicted individual becoming involved in unhealthy behaviors, which may mean they will resort back to drinking.  This is why you should do your best to do your own part by remaining loving, patient, and tolerant in your own respect.  Maintaining relationships is an important aspect in life because these connections keep people thriving through all types of circumstances whether they are good or bad.  Part of having a relationship with your loved one in their sobriety now should involve you setting boundaries.  A good 4th of July safety tip might be to have them let you know where they will be going if they separate from you as a courtesy.

Monitor your own alcohol use

If you are a casual drinker, drinking alcohol around your loved one who is in early recovery for alcoholism can be dicy as you wonder whether you are subjecting them to temptation or inadvertently pressuring them.  If you were planning on spending all of the 4th of July time with your loved one, then a good idea may be not to drink around them, especially if it’s just going to be you and your loved one.  However, if it’s a large family gathering and there’s going to be drinks there, a good suggestion may be to try to re-direct the focus so that the 4th of July celebration isn’t central to any presentation of liquor or beer on a table but rather on the gathering of the family.  Another helpful recommendation would be to discuss the 4th of July celebration beforehand with your loved one and see how they feel about there being alcohol at the party.  It may be too soon in their sobriety to be exposed to people drinking publicly, but the reality is that an alcoholic shouldn’t have to avoid a setting where drinking is involved because shielding may only end up worsening the individual.

When it comes to being with your loved one on the holiday, celebrating with these 4th of July safety tips should prove to help you have a blast!  There’s nothing greater than getting to spend time with your loved one and having them be able to actually be emotionally, mentally, and physically aware of what’s going on around them now that they are sober.

Are you still concerned about your loved one’s behaviors because you think they are back drinking again?  Contact The Watershed today for help.