Addiction can have profound and far-reaching effects on family relationships. These effects can be emotionally, psychologically, and financially devastating to the bonds between loved ones. Watching a loved one fall through a downward spiral of chemical self-destruction is one of the most painful and helpless sensations anyone may go through in life. To many, love and family means a nearly unlimited desire to help their loved ones in any and every hour of need. But when it comes to the addiction recovery that family members can know their loved ones need, family members can feel stuck in a helpless witness to their loved one’s addictions. Addiction does not care how much love its victims brought to others or how kind or selfless they may have been. Outpatient drug rehab exists because nothing else can halt the relentless march of this disease.
Make no mistake, addiction is a disease. Our entire staff at Transformations Care understands this. We were founded by people in recovery, and almost everyone who works here has had their lives touched by addiction. Whether they were addicted themselves or watched someone they love suffer from this disease. We take addiction personally because for us, it IS personal.
At Transformations Care, we do what we do because we know the way forward.
Emotional effects of addiction
- Trust: Addiction often involves secrecy, deception, and broken promises. This erodes trust within the family, as loved ones may become skeptical or wary of the addict’s words and actions.
- Distress: Family members may experience a range of emotions such as anger, frustration, sadness, guilt, and shame. All due to an addict’s behavior. They may also suffer from anxiety and depression as they navigate the challenges of living with addiction.
- Breakdown of Communication: Family members may avoid discussing the addiction or their feelings about it. This lack of open and honest communication can hinder the resolution of problems.
- Isolation: Families may become isolated from friends and social support networks due to the stigma and shame associated with addiction. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and alienation.
Psychological Effects
- Codependency: Some family members may also develop codependent behaviors. In these sad cases, families enable the addict’s addiction by trying to protect them from consequences or covering up their actions. This can perpetuate the cycle of addiction. Codependency often requires therapy for family members to unlearn and cope with the reality of how harmful this dynamic is.
- Neglecting Responsibilities: An addicted family member may neglect their responsibilities. Either by not caring for children or by not maintaining their households. This can place additional burdens on other family members.
- Role Reversal: In dysfunctional families affected by addiction, roles may become reversed. With children or other family members taking on caregiving roles typically reserved for parents. This can disrupt normal family dynamics and can have lasting psychological effects for children who are parented in this way. In the long term, this additional burden may stunt psychological growth in children or breed resentment towards absent caretakers.
- Breakup of Family Units: In some cases, addiction can lead to the breakup of families through separation, divorce, or the removal of children from their homes. All due to concerns about their safety and well-being.
Financial Effects
- Addiction itself can be expensive. Feeding an addiction can be a regular and unaffordable part of a monthly budget. Family finances may suffer as a result.
- Money may be spent on supporting the addiction or dealing with legal and medical issues related to it. All leading to financial instability. Family members may become entangled in legal problems related to the addict’s actions, such as arrests or legal fees.
- Stress and emotional turmoil caused by addiction can contribute to a variety of physical health problems. Not only the addict but their family members as well, including sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and weakened immune systems. All these health problems can become overwhelmingly and prohibitively expensive for family members who can’t pay bills with their unqualified affection.
How Inpatient & Outpatient Drug Rehab at Transformations Care Can Help
It is important to recognize that addiction is a complex and challenging issue that affects not only the individual struggling with it but also those close to them. Seeking help and support, both for the addicted individual and their family members, is crucial in addressing the many challenges that addiction presents to family relationships. Outpatient drug rehab can be a valuable resource for addicts looking to mend their relationships with their families. While the primary focus of outpatient rehab is on helping individuals overcome addiction, it includes components that can positively impact family dynamics.
At Transformations Care, we believe that recovering people make the world a better place. The character development and spiritual growth that comes from the work of addiction recovery teaches people to love more deeply and to appreciate others in a way they never could before with their newfound empathy and insight.
Here’s how outpatient drug rehab can help an addict mend their relationship with their family:
- Education
- Counseling and Therapy
- Communication Skills
- Setting Boundaries
- Rebuilding Trust
- Support and Accountability
- Relapse Prevention
- Community Resources
- Improved Health and Well-being
Helping family by healing addiction with Outpatient Drug Rehab
While incredibly helpful, outpatient drug rehab is just one part of the recovery process and mending family relationships can take time and effort from all parties involved. Family members may also benefit from seeking their own support through counseling or support groups to address their unique challenges and emotions related to the addict’s recovery. Al-Anon, for example, is a prominent support group for the friends and family of people with substance use disorder, and is usually operated in conjunction with Alcoholics Anonymous. A common Al-Anon teaching is the 3 C’s: We didn’t cause it, we can’t cure it, and we can’t control it, referring to the addiction as well as the addict.
Transformations Care is a complete addiction recovery center. Starting from detox, onto residential, outpatient, and aftercare, we are here for you. The detox phase is essential. Transformations Care has a peaceful and comfortable medication-assisted detox in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardena. We feature 24-hour medical, clinical, and psychiatric support and monitoring at our Alcohol and Drug Detox. Next is our Residential Addiction Treatment. At Transformations Care, our inpatient residential addiction treatment program offers a blend of holistic and traditional addiction treatment approaches, including art therapy, wellness, and proven 12-step fellowship recovery support components (AA & NA).
Outpatient Drug Rehab: how it works
The final elements are Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Aftercare Support. Recovery is a way of life. Effective addiction treatment doesn’t claim to “cure addiction” and then send you home to live the way you always have. We get you healthy, help you understand yourself better, and give you the tools you need to keep growing on your journey. Our outpatient drug rehab program helps you practice new recovery skills while living in supportive sober housing if you choose, or patients can choose to participate in evening IOP if they need more flexible scheduling. Outpatient drug rehab as IOP is an evidence-based addiction treatment that is proven to improve outcomes for people with substance use disorders.
The work of recovery doesn’t end when you finish addiction treatment in our outpatient drug rehab. That’s why Transformations Care gives every client that we have the privilege to treat a thorough aftercare plan to guide their recovery. Each plan is hand crafted for each client’s unique set of needs. Outpatient counseling and referrals, aftercare support, and alumni services are all part of the package.
Get help now!
If you need to make a change, we want to help you.. It might be hard to believe that a different life is within your reach – one without drugs and alcohol. At Transformations Care, we’ve helped enough people get clean and sober to know that this decision can give you the life that you deserve. Everyone deserves this chance and, at Transformation Care, we’re here to make it happen. If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you want to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth. Give us a call at (424) 339-0965, or head over to our contact us page on our website and fill out our 100% confidential information form and a compassionate member of our team will reach out to you.