How to Help an Alcoholic Family Member

How to Help an Alcoholic Family Member – 8 Essential Steps

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Alcoholism affects millions of families worldwide, with studies showing that over 7.5 million children in the U.S. live with at least one parent who struggles with alcohol addiction.

The devastating impact of alcoholism not only affects the individual but ripples throughout the family, creating emotional and psychological challenges for everyone involved.

With such a widespread issue, many families often feel helpless, unsure of how to assist their loved ones in the battle against alcohol addiction.

How to help an alcoholic family member?

  1. Educate Yourself
  2. Prepare Yourself Emotionally
  3. Plan the Conversation
  4. Conduct the Conversation
  5. Offer Support
  6. Plan an Intervention
  7. Support Their Recovery Journey
  8. Handle Relapses with Care

Keep reading to learn more about each step and how you can best support your loved one through their journey.

A man reading a book about Alcohol Use Disorder


1. Educate Yourself

Supporting a loved one with alcoholism begins by understanding Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

This condition goes beyond occasional heavy drinking—it’s a chronic medical disorder that affects both the brain and body.

People with AUD often lose control over their drinking, even when it leads to serious consequences.

Recognizing that AUD is a medical condition can help reduce feelings of frustration and judgment, allowing you to approach your loved one with more empathy.

Key AUD Symptoms to Recognize

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the signs of AUD. Some common symptoms include:

  • Strong cravings to drink, even when not socially appropriate
  • Difficulty controlling alcohol intake, even after attempting to reduce it
  • Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, sweating, or shakiness when alcohol isn’t available
  • Persistent drinking despite worsening health, damaged relationships, or declining job performance

By recognizing these symptoms, you’ll be better equipped to support your loved one with compassion and understanding.

Research Treatment Options

After grasping the nature of AUD, explore the various treatment options available. Each individual’s journey to recovery may look different, so it’s important to know what resources exist:

  • Outpatient Programs: These offer counseling and therapy while allowing the person to live at home and continue with daily responsibilities.
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation: This involves intensive treatment in a structured environment, typically for those who need full-time support to break their addiction.
  • Detox Services: Medical supervision is available to safely manage the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, which can sometimes be dangerous.

Researching these treatment methods ensures you have valuable information. This helps when discussing how to help an alcoholic family member, empowering you to guide them toward the best professional help.

Contact Project Courage today to learn more about personalized treatment options for your loved one.

2. Prepare Yourself Emotionally

Supporting a loved one with alcoholism is both emotionally and mentally demanding.

Before you step into this role, it’s essential to prepare yourself so you can be there for them while also protecting your own well-being.

Set Realistic Expectations

Recovery from alcohol addiction is not a quick or linear process. It’s crucial to set realistic expectations right from the start.

Understand that recovery will likely include relapses, setbacks, and moments of resistance.

There may be days of progress followed by difficult periods where your loved one struggles or even denies their problem.

Accepting that these challenges are part of the journey helps you stay grounded and prevents discouragement.

Some realistic expectations to keep in mind:

  • Recovery takes time: There is no fixed timeline; patience is essential.
  • Setbacks happen: Relapses are a common part of the recovery process, not a failure.
  • Your role is supportive, not controlling: You can’t “fix” your loved one, but you can be a source of stability.

Stay Patient and Compassionate

One of the hardest parts of supporting someone through alcoholism is maintaining patience and compassion, especially when your efforts aren’t immediately rewarded.

Your loved one may resist help, deny their problem, or become defensive. In these moments, it’s crucial to avoid frustration or anger.

Instead, remind yourself that alcoholism is a disease, not a moral failing.

Staying patient and compassionate allows you to respond to setbacks with understanding rather than judgment.

Even when progress seems slow or nonexistent, your consistent support and empathy can make a significant difference in their journey.

The patient communicate with his therapist about his alcohol use


3. Plan the Conversation

When approaching a loved one about their alcohol use, the way you communicate can significantly impact the outcome.

Planning the conversation carefully is essential to ensure that it’s constructive, respectful, and compassionate.

Choose the Right Time and Place

Timing and setting matter greatly when discussing a sensitive topic like alcoholism. Choose a moment when your loved one is sober, calm, and in a relatively good frame of mind.

Avoid bringing it up during or after an argument, or when they are under the influence of alcohol, as this could lead to defensiveness or anger.

Consider a quiet, private place where you won’t be interrupted.

A comfortable, familiar environment can help when learning how to help an alcoholic family member.

The goal is to make the conversation feel supportive, not confrontational.

Good practices for choosing the setting:

  • Private and comfortable location: Somewhere familiar where your loved one feels safe.
  • No distractions: Ensure there are no interruptions, such as phones, TVs, or other people.
  • Neutral and calm timing: Choose a moment when your loved one is sober and relaxed.

Use “I” Statements (While expressing your concerns)

When expressing your concerns, it’s important to use “I” statements rather than “you” statements.

This approach makes your loved one feel less attacked or blamed, allowing for a more productive conversation.

“I” statements focus on your feelings and observations without casting judgment, which helps reduce defensiveness.

For example:

  • Instead of saying, “You’re drinking too much and it’s ruining everything,” try: “I’ve noticed that your drinking has been affecting our family, and I’m really worried about you.”
  • Instead of, “You need to stop drinking,” say: “I care about you, and I’m concerned about how much you’ve been drinking lately.”

This subtle shift in language creates a space for dialogue, making your loved one more likely to listen and engage in the conversation without feeling attacked.

The family helps their member to recovery in alcohol addiction by starting conversation


4. Conduct the Conversation

Once you’ve planned the conversation and chosen the right moment, how you actually conduct it is crucial.

The way you communicate can either open the door to change or cause your loved one to shut down.

It’s important to be both honest and compassionate, while avoiding tactics that might escalate tension or create resistance.

Be Honest and Compassionate

When discussing your concerns, honesty is key—but it must be paired with compassion.

Speak from the heart and let your loved one know that your words come from a place of care and concern, not judgment or anger.

Share your observations openly but gently, focusing on how their drinking has affected you and others around them.

For example:

  • Honest: “I’ve noticed you’ve been drinking a lot more lately, and it’s been affecting your health and our relationship.”
  • Compassionate: “I care about you deeply, and I want to support you through whatever you’re going through.”

By balancing honesty with kindness, you can help when learning how to help an alcoholic family member feel supported rather than attacked, which may make them more receptive to the idea of seeking help.

Avoid Ultimatums

It’s tempting to issue ultimatums when you feel frustrated or hurt, but this can often backfire.

Saying things like “If you don’t stop drinking, I’m leaving” or “You have to choose between alcohol and me” may push your loved one into a defensive corner and make them less likely to change.

Instead of ultimatums, focus on expressing your concerns and offering support.

Let them know you’re there to help and that they have options for recovery.

If boundaries are necessary, communicate them calmly and clearly, but avoid framing them as threats.

For instance:

  • Avoid: “If you don’t stop drinking, I’m done.”
  • Try: “I’m really worried about your drinking and how it’s affecting us. I’m here to help you, but I also need to take care of myself.”

By steering clear of ultimatums, you foster an atmosphere of understanding and support, which is more conducive to positive change.

Ready to take the next step?

Reach out to Project Courage for a confidential consultation.

The parents offer their support for fast recovery of their son in alcohol addiction


5. Offer Support

Once the conversation is underway, offering support is the next critical step.

It’s important to express that you’re there for your loved one and that they don’t have to face their struggles alone.

By encouraging them to seek professional help and staying actively involved in their recovery journey, you can make a significant difference in their path to healing.

Encourage Professional Help

While your support is crucial, professional help is often necessary for lasting recovery from alcohol addiction.

Encourage your loved one to seek out qualified professionals who can guide them through detoxification, counseling, and long-term treatment options.

This could include reaching out to a therapist, attending support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or entering a rehabilitation program.

Gently remind them that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a brave and necessary step toward getting better.

Offer to assist them in finding treatment options or accompany them to their first appointment to make the process less intimidating.

Ways to encourage professional help:

  • Provide information: Share details about local treatment centers, therapists, or support groups.
  • Offer to help: Assist them in making appointments or navigating insurance coverage.
  • Accompany them: Offer to attend their first therapy session or support group meeting with them.

Be Involved

Your ongoing involvement can make a powerful difference when learning how to help an alcoholic family member.

Show that you’re committed to supporting them, not just in the short term, but throughout their entire journey.

This may involve attending family therapy sessions, checking in regularly, or helping them maintain a healthy, supportive environment.

Being involved doesn’t mean controlling their recovery, but rather offering encouragement, accountability, and emotional support when needed.

Celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and remind them that they are not alone in their fight against addiction.

Ways to stay involved:

  • Attend support meetings: Join family sessions or attend Al-Anon meetings to better understand addiction.
  • Offer regular check-ins: Keep open lines of communication and check in on their progress.
  • Create a supportive environment: Help eliminate alcohol-related triggers from their surroundings.

By being actively engaged in their recovery process, you reinforce your commitment to their well-being and help them build a solid foundation for long-term success.

A man visit his friend and support for fast recovery in alcohol addiction


6. Plan an Intervention

If your loved one continues to deny their problem or refuses to seek help despite your efforts, an intervention may be necessary.

An intervention is a structured, carefully planned event where close friends and family come together to express their concerns in a supportive yet firm manner.

This can help your loved one realize the gravity of their situation and motivate them to seek professional help.

Seek Professional Guidance

Interventions are delicate and often emotionally charged, so it’s highly recommended to seek professional guidance.

A trained interventionist or counselor can help you plan the intervention in a way that is effective and minimizes the risk of conflict or defensiveness.

These professionals are skilled in handling the complex emotions involved and can provide strategies to keep the conversation focused and constructive.

Steps to take with professional guidance:

  • Consult an interventionist: Reach out to someone with experience in guiding families through interventions.
  • Follow a structured plan: Ensure that everyone involved knows their role and how to communicate their concerns effectively.
  • Prepare for different outcomes: Have a plan in place for what happens if your loved one refuses help, such as next steps or boundaries to maintain.

Prepare a Team that Includes Close Friends and Family Members

An effective intervention requires a team of people who genuinely care about the person struggling with alcoholism.

Choose individuals who have a positive influence and who your loved one respects.

Ideally, the team should include a mix of close family members and trusted friends who can speak to the emotional, social, and health impacts of their drinking.

Once you’ve assembled the team, work together to rehearse what each person will say.

The focus should be on expressing concern and offering support, rather than placing blame or issuing threats.

Each person should speak from their personal experiences and feelings, using “I” statements to avoid making the individual feel attacked.

Tips for preparing the team:

  • Choose people carefully: Include those who have a strong, positive relationship with your loved one.
  • Rehearse the intervention: Have each person plan their statements, focusing on how the loved one’s behavior has impacted them personally.
  • Stay united: Ensure that the team presents a consistent message and avoids conflicting statements or emotional outbursts.

By organizing a well-planned intervention with the guidance of a professional, you increase the chances of encouraging your loved one to accept the help they need.

Get expert support and guidance—call Project Courage now for more information.

The parents shows their support to their son for his recovery journey in alcohol use


7. Support Their Recovery Journey

Once you’ve learned how to help an alcoholic family member and they begin their recovery, your role doesn’t end—it shifts.

Supporting them throughout their recovery journey is crucial to helping them maintain long-term sobriety.

Your encouragement and commitment can make a significant difference in their ability to stay on track and rebuild their life.

Create a Supportive Environment

A key part of supporting recovery is creating an environment that encourages sobriety.

This means making sure their surroundings are free of temptations and triggers.

Remove alcohol from the home, and help them develop new, healthy routines that support their goals.

Encourage activities that don’t involve alcohol, such as exercising, hobbies, or spending time outdoors.

Additionally, fostering open communication is essential. Let them know they can talk to you about their struggles without judgment.

Providing a sense of safety and understanding will help them stay motivated during difficult times.

Ways to create a supportive environment:

  • Eliminate alcohol from the home: Make your space alcohol-free to reduce temptation.
  • Encourage positive activities: Promote healthy habits, such as exercise, hobbies, and relaxation techniques.
  • Foster open communication: Be available to listen without judgment, allowing them to express their feelings and concerns.

Attend Support Groups

Recovery is a challenging process, and it’s important for both you and your loved one to have a support network.

Encourage them to attend support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which can provide valuable peer support and accountability.

Similarly, family members can benefit from attending groups like Al-Anon or Alateen, which are designed to help those affected by a loved one’s alcoholism.

Attending support groups allows you to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

These groups can offer practical advice, emotional support, and a sense of community.

By staying involved in support groups, both you and your loved one will have a stronger foundation to sustain long-term recovery.

Benefits of attending support groups:

  • Peer support: Your loved one will meet others who understand their struggles and can provide encouragement.
  • Accountability: Regular meetings help keep them accountable for their recovery progress.
  • Family support: Al-Anon and similar groups offer emotional support and coping strategies for family members.

By creating a nurturing environment and staying engaged with support networks, you can help your loved one stay committed to their recovery and build a healthier, happier future.

A man encourage his friend to read a book for fast recovery in alcohol addiction


8. Handle Relapses with Care

Relapses are a common part of the recovery journey, and though they can be discouraging, learning how to help an alcoholic family member through them with understanding and care is essential.

How you respond during these moments can greatly influence your loved one’s path forward.

By staying supportive and helping them get back on track, you can reinforce their commitment to recovery.

Stay Positive and Supportive

When a relapse occurs, it’s natural to feel disappointed or frustrated. However, it’s important to stay calm and maintain a positive, supportive attitude.

Instead of expressing anger or disappointment, offer reassurance that relapse doesn’t mean failure—it’s a bump in the road that many people experience during recovery.

Remind your loved one that setbacks are part of the process, and what matters most is how they respond moving forward.

Offer words of encouragement and let them know you believe in their ability to overcome this challenge.

Ways to stay positive and supportive:

  • Remain calm: Avoid reacting with anger or frustration.
  • Reassure them: Let them know that relapse is common and doesn’t define their recovery.
  • Express belief in them: Remind them of the progress they’ve made and encourage them to continue.

Encourage Returning to Treatment

If a relapse occurs, it’s crucial to urge your loved one to re engage with treatment.

Whether it’s reconnecting with their therapist, attending more frequent support group meetings, or revisiting a rehabilitation program, getting back on track as quickly as possible can prevent further setbacks.

Gently remind them that returning to treatment is not a step backward but an opportunity to reinforce the strategies that helped them in the first place.

 Offer to help them make the necessary arrangements and provide emotional support as they re-engage in their recovery process.

Steps to encourage returning to treatment:

  • Reaffirm the importance of treatment: Remind them that treatment is a valuable tool for regaining control.
  • Help with logistics: Offer to schedule appointments or attend meetings with them.
  • Support their decision: Reinforce that seeking additional help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

By handling relapses with care, you can help your loved one see that recovery is a continuous process. Staying supportive and encouraging them to seek help again will give them the confidence to move forward with their journey.

The therapist talks to his patient about alcohol use with his wife for fast recovery


Treatment and Rehabilitation Options to help an alcoholic family member

When you’re learning how to help an alcoholic family member and they are ready to seek help for their addiction, understanding the available treatment and rehabilitation options can guide them toward the right path.

Different programs offer varying levels of support, and finding the best fit can make a significant impact on their recovery.

Here are some key options to consider:

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are designed for individuals who need structured support but do not require 24/7 supervision.

These programs allow participants to continue living at home while attending several hours of therapy and counseling sessions each week.

IOPs are ideal for those who have completed inpatient treatment or for individuals who need intensive support but have family, work, or school commitments.

Benefits of IOP:

  • Flexible scheduling: Participants can attend therapy sessions while maintaining daily responsibilities.
  • Structured support: Provides a solid framework for maintaining sobriety through regular therapy, group sessions, and skill-building exercises.
  • Continuity of care: Often serves as a step-down option from inpatient programs, offering continued support.

In-Home Recovery Services

In-home recovery services bring treatment to the comfort of the home, providing a flexible option for those who prefer a more private approach to recovery.

These services may include one-on-one counseling, medical supervision, and support tailored to the individual’s needs.

This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who face barriers to attending traditional treatment settings, such as mobility issues or social anxiety.

Benefits of In-Home Recovery Services:

  • Privacy: Allows individuals to receive care without leaving their home, which can be more comfortable and less stigmatizing.
  • Personalized care: Services are tailored to the specific needs of the individual, allowing for a more customized approach.
  • Convenience: Ideal for those with scheduling conflicts or transportation issues, offering flexibility and ease of access.

Family Services

Family services are a crucial aspect of alcohol addiction treatment, recognizing that addiction affects not only the individual but the entire family.

These services offer counseling and education for family members to help them understand addiction, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and learn how to support their loved one without enabling harmful behavior.

Family services may include family therapy sessions, educational workshops, and support groups for family members.

By involving the family in the recovery process, these services help create a supportive and healing environment that can aid in long-term sobriety.

Benefits of Family Services:

  • Family healing:Focuses on repairing the emotional and relationship strain that addiction has caused within the family.
  • Education and support: Helps family members understand addiction and learn how to support their loved one in healthy, constructive ways.
  • Improved communication: Strengthens family bonds and fosters healthier communication, which is essential for the recovery process.

Each of these treatment options provides valuable support tailored to the unique needs of your loved one, helping them take meaningful steps toward lasting recovery.

Explore how Project Courage can help—schedule a consultation with our experienced team today.

The therapist happy for the fast recovery of her patient in alcohol addiction


Benefits of Treating Alcohol Addiction at Project Courage

Choosing the right treatment facility is a critical step in helping your loved one overcome alcohol addiction.

Project Courage offers a range of benefits that make it an ideal place for individuals seeking recovery:

  • Personalized Care: The website emphasizes individualized care, recognizing that each person’s story and journey are unique.
  • Comprehensive Programs: Project Courage offers a range of services, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), In-Home Recovery Services, and Family Services, which indicate comprehensive treatment options.
  • Family Involvement: The site clearly states that addiction is a “family disease” and highlights the importance of family services in the treatment process.
  • Expert Staff: The “Our Staff” section showcases a team of highly qualified professionals dedicated to helping individuals through addiction recovery.
  • Holistic Approach: The website mentions using various therapeutic models, including internal family systems and stages of change, which indicate a holistic treatment method addressing multiple aspects of recovery.
  • Flexible Scheduling: The availability of different program options, like IOP and in-home services, supports flexible scheduling.
  • Supportive Environment: Project Courage focuses on creating a welcoming and compassionate community for recovery.
  • Ongoing Support: The commitment to long-term care and minimizing treatment barriers suggests ongoing support for clients.

These benefits make Project Courage a comprehensive and compassionate choice for anyone looking to break free from alcohol addiction and build a healthier future.

Conclusion

Helping a loved one with alcohol addiction requires understanding, patience, and ongoing support.

Learning how to help an alcoholic family member by educating yourself, preparing emotionally, and offering compassionate guidance allows you to play a crucial role in their recovery.

Whether through encouraging treatment, planning an intervention, or supporting their journey, your involvement matters.

For personalized, comprehensive care, Project Courage offers expert staff, holistic programs, and family involvement.

Take the next step—Contact Project Courage today for more information or to schedule a confidential consultation.

How to Help a Family Member with Addiction

How to Help a Family Member with Addiction – The 10 Steps

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As the opioid epidemic continues to grow, more and more Americans are left wondering how to help a family member with addiction. Recent data on Substance Use Disorders (SUD) indicates that 48.7 million Americans abuse drugs, alcohol, or both.

How to Help a Family Member with Addiction?

  1. Recognize the Signs of Substance Abuse Disorders
  2. Educate Yourself on the Realities of Substance Abuse
  3. Offer Support Without Enabling
  4. Communicate Effectively
  5. Encourage Treatment
  6. Explore In-Home Recovery Services
  7. Support Recovery at Home
  8. Utilize Family Therapy
  9. Join Support Groups
  10. Stay Hopeful and Encouraging

The problems of substance abuse are not bigger than all of us. If you have a parent, child, friend, or sibling who abuses drugs, alcohol, or gambling, this guide is for you.

Outlined below are 10 things that you can do to support their recovery and care for yourself in the process.

A man share his experience when using a substance to his doctor

1. Recognize the Signs of Substance Use Disorders

Prevention is one of the best ways to mitigate drug or alcohol addiction.

If you can intervene before the situation becomes too serious, you may be able to save yourself and your community a lot of pain.

There are 3 early signs that predict future substance abuse:

  1. Family history
  2. Being drawn to a substance
  3. Loss of control around the substance

If you think your loved one may be addicted to drugs or alcohol, here are 12 signs that someone needs help to overcome their SUD:

  1. Loss of interest in things that were once important to them
  2. Retreating from relationships and community engagements
  3. Engaging in risky behavior in order to acquire drugs or alcohol
  4. Missing large amounts of work
  5. Chronic fatigue from loss of sleep
  6. Engaging in secrecy about their substance use
  7. Cognitive decline, memory loss, or slurring of words
  8. Changes in weight
  9. Bloodshot eyes, trembling, or sweating
  10. Sudden, unpredictable mood swings
  11. Aggressive behavior, especially surrounding their substance use
  12. Money problems that may lead them to extort or steal from their loved ones

2. Educate Yourself on the Realities of Substance Abuse

Learning how to help a family member with addiction begins by understanding the realities of substance abuse.

You should educate yourself on how it affects the brain because this will help you address your loved one’s behavior.

When someone is dependent on drugs or alcohol, their brain gets hijacked. The substances act on the pleasure center of the brain, which rewires the brain to only get dopamine through drugs or alcohol.

This causes the brain to crave substances because it can’t get dopamine from other, healthier activities.

It is also important for you to understand that addiction isn’t about willpower, nor is it a choice. It is a disease that requires love, support, and understanding to effectively treat.

3. Offer Support Without Enabling

It is common for the parents, siblings, and children of addicts to withdraw all support because they don’t want to risk enabling the behavior. However, it is possible to support someone with a SUD without enabling it.

For example, instead of giving them money, which they will likely spend on drugs or alcohol, consider bringing them groceries, taking them shopping for necessities, or inviting them to join you on fun activities.

Keep affirming your love for them, but never weaponize it against them.

You should never say “if you really loved me, you’d quit” because that creates guilt, which can make them crave drugs or alcohol.

Instead, tell them you love them and keep reaching out your hand, even if they don’t always respond.

4. Communicate Effectively

Household dysfunction, secrecy, and lying often exacerbates substance abuse.

To prevent this, all the people around the addict need to practice effective communication with them and with each other.

When you engage with the person who has the SUD, you should always:

  • Set clear boundaries and respond as promised if those boundaries are violated
  • Be kind and loving
  • Communicate how their behavior makes you feel using “I” statements
  • Never accuse, insult, or belittle them
  • Make sure to listen to what they are trying to communicate and show that you are trying to understand

You and your support network should practice effective communication with each other by:

  • Always being honest about the addicted person’s behavior and actions. Do not lie to cover for them.
  • Do not place blame for their actions on other people
  • Share how the behavior makes you feel
  • When you notice dysfunction, point it out to everyone and discuss ways of fixing it
  • Avoid using stigmatizing language when discussing substance abuse. Try to always use medical terms to clearly define what is happening
A man encourage his friend to get a treatment

5. Encourage Them to Get Treatment

Everyone wants their loved ones to get treatment and maintain their sobriety so that they can live a happy, healthy life.

However, it is important to provide encouragement in the correct tone and in a helpful way.

You should avoid forcing them into treatment, giving them a strict ultimatum, and having an all-or-nothing mentality.

Instead, consider approaching the topic with compassion. Be aware that it can take time and several different tries to begin the recovery process.

Here are 7 ways that you can aid this journey:

  1. Help them research treatment options
  2. Celebrate their milestones with them
  3. Accompany them to meetings and consultations
  4. Locate their triggers and make a plan with them to avoid those triggers
  5. Be a safe space for them
  6. Help them discover or rediscover activities and passions
  7. In the case of a relapse, keep supporting them without showing shame or disappointment

6. Explore In-Home Recovery Services

There is no one-size-fits-all model for substance abuse recovery.

Different types of programs can work for some people but not others. As you navigate how to help a family member with addiction, you should look into your local treatment options.

Project Courage offers in-home recovery services in Connecticut. There are 5 key benefits to this type of program:

  1. Addiction is a family disease, so the environment that created the disorder must be addressed for recovery to be successful.
  2. It is easy to stay sober when someone is in a recovery facility, away from all their triggers, but the experience may not prepare them for staying sober in their everyday life.
  3. In-home programs allow people to heal in a familiar environment with their support network nearby.
  4. People don’t have to miss work or school, which can create additional stressors when they recover at home.
  5. Recovering at home allows the person to rebuild and reorganize their life in a way that does not include drugs or alcohol.

7. Support Recovery at Home

Regardless of where your loved one began their recovery – at home, with out-patient services, or at a rehab facility – they will need on-going support at home.

The most important thing that you can do is to express your love for them and provide a space free of triggers.

You can also offer support by driving them to meetings or attending meetings with them, helping them navigate the technical elements of recovery like insurance, re-involve them with extended family members, and help them discover new activities.

8. Utilize Family Therapy

Therapy is an important tool in substance abuse recovery.

When it comes to how to help a family member with addiction, attending therapy with them can make a big difference.

When there is substance abuse in a household, it is normal for the different group members to take on dysfunctional roles.

These roles can perpetuate SUD and can even when treatment is well underway. For the household to become a safe place for long-term sobriety, everyone must break out of their roles and heal together.

9. Join a Support Group

Supporting a loved one through treatment can take a heavy toll on your mental health. It is important for the family to remember self-care and to seek support for what they are going through.

Since addiction is so isolating, it can be beneficial to join a support group to connect with other people in your situation. In a support group, you can receive emotional support, get tips from people who have gone through what you are going through, and hear positive stories to give you hope.

If you live in Connecticut, contact Project Courage to learn more about our family support services.

10. Stay Hopeful and Encouraging

Your addicted loved one might not say it out loud, but your hope and encouragement means everything to them.

Sobriety is a long journey that most people can’t make alone. Always try to be encouraging and offer to help in any way that you are able to.

While your family navigates this process, keep in mind that the numbers are on your side: the majority of people with SUD go on to recover and live happy, healthy, successful lives.

The doctor discuss what recovery programs available in Connecticut

What Recovery Programs Are Available in Connecticut?

Project Courage is a drug and alcohol recovery program in Connecticut.

When people start wondering how to help a family member with an addiction, our center is usually their first call. We offer the following services for substance abuse disorder treatment:

In-Home Recovery Services (IHRS)

IHRS allows people to receive treatment in the comfort of their own homes. This approach is ideal because it allows people to stay with their support system.

There is no fear or judgment, which can be present for people entering a clinical setting. When someone receives this service, their custom care team works with them in their home to facilitate SUD recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Intensive Outpatient Programs are similar to IHRS because the person remains at home and can continue to work or go to school.

IOP offers a more intense level of support than IHRS. Instead of seeing your care team a few times a week, you get 3 hours a day of treatment. This approach is beneficial for patients who have mental health challenges that exist alongside their addiction. There are also options for patients to start with IOP and then graduate to a different level of support as they rebuild their lives.

Family Therapy

Substance abuse causes and is caused by dysfunction in the household. The best way to help a loved one stay sober is to heal the family dysfunction.

Therapy is a great way for everyone in the household to process their feelings about addiction, how it impacted them, and make a plan for moving forward.

Individual & Group Therapy

Therapy is an important tool for people overcoming addiction.

Project Courage tailors the type of therapy to each case. In these sessions, patients can:

  • Process the hurt and trauma that may have contributed to substance use
  • Identify their triggers
  • Work through their feelings about drugs and alcohol
  • Improve their mental health
  • Learn to forgive themselves
  • Develop healthy coping mechanisms
  • Receive support

After a patient has graduated from the program, there are aftercare options available to them to continue group therapy or get a referral to nearby meetings.

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The family support their addict member for fast recovery

How to Help a Family Member with Addiction – Frequently Asked Questions

I. How to help a family member with alcohol addiction?

The best way to help is to learn about alcoholism and offer support without judgment. It can help to refrain from drinking in front of that person and only invite them to alcohol-free gatherings. If the person is ready, you can help them locate treatment resources.

II. How to help a family member with drug addiction?

You can best help by not enabling the behavior. Friends and relatives should keep communication open with the addict and with each other. It is best to never cover for a person with a SUD. Instead, maintain healthy boundaries, help them out by buying them needed items instead of giving them money, and researching their treatment options.

III. How to help a family member with addiction and depression?

Addiction and depression go hand in hand. The family should help the person find suitable treatment options, whether it is therapy, mental health medication, detox, an intensive program, or attending support groups. In the meantime, everyone should keep trying to include them in activities and be ready to listen without judgment.

IV. How to help a family member with a gambling addiction?

The first step is to know the signs of gambling addiction, which include compulsive gambling, missing important events to gamble, frequent money problems, and secrecy about money and gambling. From there, friends and relatives can engage in a non-judgmental discussion about the harmful effects of gambling and help the person identify replacement activities.

Begin the Intake Process Today!

Project Courage is here to answer all your questions regarding how to help a family member with addiction.

We offer a variety of services for both the person with the SUD and the people around them.

While community support is an important part of recovery, entering a professional treatment program is the most reliable way to ensure long-term sobriety.

Contact Project Courage today for a confidential consultation.

Addiction is a Family Disease

Addiction is a Family Disease – 10 Ways SUD Affects Families

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Substance use disorders (SUD) are not an isolated incident that only impacts the addict; addiction is a family disease, meaning that the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse touch everyone.

Why is Addiction a Family Disease?

Addiction begins and ends with familial systems. When a household is dysfunctional, a child can experience loneliness and depression, which can drive them to seek dopamine from drugs or alcohol. When a member of a household is abusing substances, their actions affect everyone around them. It can drive parents and siblings to engage in deception, enabling arguments, isolation, and financial overexertion. These habits can perpetuate addictive behavior and begin an unhealthy cycle that leads the next generation toward substance abuse.

However, there is hope. The best treatment is one that embraces everyone in the community because addiction is a family disease. Only then can healing begin and sobriety become lasting..

10 Signs That Substance Abuse Affects the Entire Family

When someone has a substance use disorder, it doesn’t just affect them but their entire social network. Listed below are signs of how addiction affects the community surrounding the person with SUD. If you recognize any of these signs in your family, contact Project Courage for more information about compassionate substance abuse recovery.

1. Increased conflict and arguments

2. Financial strain due to substance-related expenses

3. Isolation from relatives and friends

4. Shifts in family roles to accommodate the addict

5. Emotional distress among friends and family members

6. Neglect of family responsibilities

7. Secrecy and lies becoming commonplace

8. Deterioration of trust between siblings, parents, and children

9. Changes in children’s behavior or performance at school

10. Increased health problems among family members

Both parents support their son for addiction treatment

1. Increased conflict and arguments

Substance abuse disorders cause strife as family members feel forced to take sides. If an adult child is the one with the disorder, parents may find themselves placing blame, enabling the child, or hiding things from their spouse. When a parent or sibling has the disorder, it is normal for relatives to disagree on the best course of action.

2. Financial strain due to substance-related expenses

When a loved one is abusing substances, there are a lot of expenses that take a toll on the people around them. These can range from moderate expenses, like the occasional loan, to extreme expenses, like raising the addicted person’s child. Other contributors to financial strain include:

  • If the person is stealing money to fund their habit
  • The cost of sending the loved one to programs to get them sober
  • Family members may need to take time off work to care for, support, or search for their loved one
  • If the person with a SUD can’t maintain employment, parents or siblings may shoulder the cost of feeding and housing them
  • The cost of substance-related medical care

Financial strain can lead to greater stress, arguments, lying and keeping secrets, distrust, and risk of health problems.

3. Isolation from relatives and friends

While addiction is a family disease, it most severely affects their siblings, parents, and children, rather than distant relatives. As a result, those relatives may not see or understand the scope of the problem. This could lead to tension if distant aunts, uncles, and cousins give unsolicited advice, place blame, or make insensitive comments about the situation. The immediate relatives may feel like no one understands their struggle and push away their friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

4. Shifts in family roles to accommodate the addict

While every situation and household is different, there are common family roles in addiction that people often find themselves falling into. These roles are a reaction to the addict, either to enable them, dismiss them, or protect themselves. Filling these roles often leads to dishonesty and lack of trust as parents and siblings attempt to navigate the bombshell that is substance use.

These roles are often invisible to the people inside those roles. It usually takes an outside perspective to help untangle the thoughts, feelings, and habits that had evolved in response to a loved one’s substance use. If you or a loved one struggles with drugs or alcohol, give Project Courage a call for a confidential consultation.

5. Emotional distress among friends and family members

The emotional toll that addiction takes on parents, siblings, and children is well-documented. It is extremely distressing to watch your loved one go through the throws of substance abuse. You may feel powerless to help as they went through:

  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Struggled to stay sober
  • Relapsing
  • Lost their job or housing
  • Lied to you
  • Stole from you to buy drugs or alcohol
  • Experienced health problems
  • Threw their life away over drugs or alcohol
  • Lashed out at you for trying to help

Every situation is different when it comes to substance use, but addiction often transforms loved ones into someone their family doesn’t recognize. It hurts to see your parents, siblings, or children suffer, especially when you don’t know how to get through to them to convince them to get and stay sober.

The family support their addict son for recovering

6. Neglect of family responsibilities

When someone you love has a substance use disorder, it is normal for everyone around them to react to that person. This is the key reason why addiction is a family disease. A parent may become an enabler by refusing to maintain boundaries with the addict. This person often becomes the addict’s lifeline, meaning that all their energy goes towards them, and they have no energy left to maintain their other familial relationships. When a parent neglects their other children by focusing on the child with the SUD, the parent-child relationship erodes. This can cause the addict’s siblings to be angry with them, distant from other relatives, and not close to each other.

When familial relationships are neglected, people drift apart. If a relationship becomes estranged, repairing the rift and returning to a loving place can be very difficult.

7. Secrecy and lies becoming commonplace

Substance use disorders come with a lot of stigma, which can manifest as shame for the addict and their relatives or difficulty asking for support. Because of this stigma, a family can fall into a pattern of secrecy and lies. People with a SUD may lie to their loved ones to cover up their substance abuse. Their parents or siblings may lie to each other to enable the addict, to keep the peace, or to hide their distress. A household may also lie to distant relatives to maintain the illusion that everything is okay.

8. Deterioration of trust between siblings, parents, and children

The first sign that addiction is a family disease is the deterioration of trust. This can occur in 3 different ways:

Loss of trust in the person who abuses drugs or alcohol

Since drugs and alcohol distort the functionality of the brain, addiction can cause people to act impulsively, create memory loss, contribute to paranoia, and cause depression. When someone’s brain has been hijacked by substances, they will likely lie, use their loved ones, and blow up at the people around them. These behaviors cause their friends and family to no longer trust them or believe what they have to say.

Diminishing trust between household members

When a loved one struggles with addiction, it affects not just them but their parents, siblings, and children. People often take on specific roles in response to the situation, usually by enabling it, distracting from it, taking the blame for it, or disappearing from family life. These roles may require people to be disingenuous with the people around them, causing lies and secrecy to build up. The rest is that the trust between siblings, parents, and children is damaged.

A child’s loses their ability to trust

When children of any age have a parent who abuses drugs or alcohol, that environment can impair their ability to form connections with other people. Teens with addicted parents may become hyper-independent so that they don’t need anyone, thus pushing away anyone who could support them. When these children grow into adults, they may have difficulty forming trusting relationships and friendships because they never saw that trust modeled for them at home.

9. Changes in children’s behavior or performance at school

When a parent or sibling struggles with addiction, it has an adverse impact on a child’s physical health, mental wellbeing, and their academic performance. Barriers to a child’s success often look like:

  • Kids coming to school with no school supplies because the money was spent on drugs or alcohol
  • Young children may mimic the dysfunctional behavior in their home, which causes them to get in trouble at school and be alienated from their peers
  • Living in a household with an addict is very stressful, so children in that situation may perpetually be in fight or flight mode, making them unable to relax and learn
  • Depending on the severity of the situation, a child’s basic needs may not be getting met
  • A parent may be unable to academically support their child by helping them with homework, advocating for them academically, and going to parent-teacher conferences

10. Increased health problems among family members

It is well-documented how stress can contribute to health problems like obesity, insomnia, heart disease, elevated risk of cancer, and immune system problems. Dealing with a loved one who abuses substances creates chronic stress for everyone around them, which affects their health.

Substance abuse doesn’t only impact the person struggling with the disorder. Because addiction is a family disease, it impacts everyone the addict knows and loves. This is why Project Courage specializes in community-centered recovery and healing. Contact us today for more information about programs and intake options.

She helping his brother to recover for addiction

What Are the 7 Family Roles in Addiction?

As mentioned above, there are certain roles that members of a household often fall into when faced with substance abuse.

1. The Addict

Whether they are a parent, child, or sibling, they are the source of conflict because their disease drives them to lie, steal, cheat, use, insult, and disappear from their loved ones.

2. The Caretaker

This person is often the parent of the addicted person, most commonly their mother or grandmother. Caretakers put all their energy into maintaining a peaceful home at the expense of their health and well-being.

3. The Hero

Most of the time, the hero is the eldest child. The hero will try to appear perfect in all areas and attain high levels of success that they believe will make their home life okay. This eventually causes burnout and resentment.

4. The Scapegoat

This is the person who gets blamed for the problems that are caused by addiction. The scapegoat is often the overlooked child; they can be the middle or the youngest child. The constant blame will lead them to withdraw from their parents and siblings.

5. The Mascot

Out of a set of siblings, the youngest child, who was doted on by the parents over their older siblings, is more likely to become the mascot. They will use humor to keep everyone happy so that no one gets upset or argues.

6. The Lost Child

This person is overlooked and withdrawn from the rest of the family. They are uninvolved in the household dynamic and receive very little attention. While the lost child can be anyone in a set of siblings, this role is most commonly embodied by step and half-siblings, oldest children with a large age gap between them and their siblings, and middle children.

7. The Enabler

While they mean well, their inability to create boundaries with the addict will drive everyone into greater dysfunction. Enablers will support the addicted person, lie for them, and make excuses. In a household, enablers are often older than the addict, like a mother, father, older sibling, or grandparent.

Family support for his addict brother

The Importance of Family-Based Addiction Treatment

Since addiction is a family disease, the entire household must be treated for recovery to be successful. The addict’s actions do not happen in a vacuum; dysfunction in the home can create the seeds of addictive tendencies, perpetuate the behavior, and be worsened by the roles parents and siblings fall into. It is very hard for a person with a substance use disorder to get sober when they are in the same environment that led to their disorder in the first place. For recovery to be successful, the dysfunctional behaviors and cycles must be ended so that healing can begin.

Compassionate Substance Abuse Recovery in Connecticut

Project Courage is a facility at the forefront of treating addiction as a family disease. We offer services not only for the person with the disorder but for everyone who loves them. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, call today to verify your insurance.

Family Therapy for Addiction

Family Therapy for Addiction – Best Programs for Recovery

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Family therapy for addiction is one of the most effective treatments. This is because Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) do not happen in a vacuum; the dysfunction in a household can contribute to the behavior. This is why it is beneficial for a person’s support system to be involved in the treatment as well.

What Are the Benefits of Family Therapy for Addictions?

Substance Use Disorder treatment that includes siblings, parents, and children of the person with the disorder can have a greater long-term effect than solo treatment. This approach can:

  • Provide the person with SUD with more support
  • Give relatives information about signs and triggers for a relapse
  • Resolve generational trauma that contributed to substance abuse
  • Improve communication between relatives
  • Help the parents, siblings, and children set and maintain boundaries
  • Prevent the person with SUD’s social circle from falling into enabling roles
  • Allow everyone to move past the hurt, secrecy, and lies that came about due to substance use

Project Courage is a Connecticut-based treatment facility and resource that specializes in community-based treatment. This article is our complete guide on household therapy. Contact Project Courage if you have any questions about insurance, programs, or the intake process.

Family support their addict member for fast recovery

Which Treatment Programs are Effective for SUD Recovery?

Recovery programs need to be tailored to the individual in order to be the most effective. There are a few different family therapy programs that are proven to bring about long-term sobriety:

Behavioral Family Therapy

Behavioral treatment is common for treating a wide range of health concerns, from depression and phobias to PTSD and SUD. This approach is based on the idea that behaviors and thoughts are connected. All behaviors are learned, so the key to better health is to unlearn and stop the behavior.

When it comes to SUD treatment, this type of therapy focuses on addressing the feelings and needs of the participants. Most sessions are done with the entire group. However, depending on the therapists’ discretion, there may be the need for individual sessions.

While every situation is different, the treatment process of BFT often includes the following elements:

  • Identify stressors, dysfunction, trauma, and disagreements within the group
  • Discuss how substance abuse affects everyone
  • Clarify the thoughts, needs, and goals of the participants
  • Provide the siblings, parents, and children with an opportunity to identify their own roles in the SUD cycle
  • Improve communication
  • Educate the participants on the signs of relapse
  • The person with the SUD will also identify their triggers and make a plan to prevent relapse
  • Make a plan to help everyone get their needs met
  • Discuss and work through their shared history
  • Improve problem-solving skills

Multidimensional Family Therapy for Addiction

Substance abuse is multifaceted, so the treatment should be as well. MDFT is most commonly used for teens who struggle with substance use. Meta-analyses of types of therapy indicate that MDFT has promising outcomes in reducing long-term teen drug use.

At its core, MDFT focuses on the 4 core areas of a person’s life and brings about changes to those areas. For example:

Core Area 1: The Person with the SUD

This domain is all about building tools to prevent relapse. Often in individual sessions, the person discusses their history with substances, identifies their triggers, and analyzes the role of the substances in their life. From there, the therapist works with them to develop emotional regulation and social competence.

For teens, this can mean developing self-confidence and learning to resist peer pressure. Adult patients may learn how to navigate social situations without the social lubrication of drugs or alcohol. Patients of all ages learn to identify the emotions that make them want to seek drugs or alcohol. Once these emotions are identified, they can work on channeling those emotions differently.

Both parents support their son for addiction treatment

Core Area 2: The Parents

This area is most applicable when the patient is a child or a teenager. However, some of the strategies can be beneficial in adult patients. For this aspect of treatment, the parents meet with the therapist in order to:

  • Reduce conflict amongst themselves
  • Improve their emotional regulation
  • Identify ways to be more emotionally present with their child
  • Practice communication skills
  • Brainstorm ways to be a positive influence

Core Area 3: The Siblings and Other Members of the Household

A person’s relationship with their siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives can play a role in substance use. Just as the relationship with parents must be improved, the person’s siblings and cousins can also gain skills from being involved in MDFT.

This aspect of the treatment has some of the same goals as core area 2. It includes rebuilding relationships, reducing conflict, bettering communication skills, and deepening emotional attachments.

When an individual struggling with addiction has close familial bonds, they will be better able to resist relapse triggers.

Core Area 4: The Community

There are a few different aspects to this element of the treatment. For teen patients, their peers are a huge influence on how they use substances. Staying sober often means that teens need to make new friends. The MDFT therapist may give the teen strategies to change social circles, resist peer pressure, and identify when a friend is not a good influence.

As part of treatment, the teen may also explore different hobbies, find volunteer opportunities, and develop new skills.

Additionally, this process can help provide the family unit with resources for navigating systems. This means that the therapist may provide tools for advocating for the teen. Alternatively, the parents may learn terminology to handle the teen’s court appearances, medical appointments, and school accommodations.

Group of people support their friend's for addiction treatment

Functional Family Therapy

FFT is an intensive, short-term type of family therapy for addiction. Aspects of it are similar to other treatments. What makes it distinct is the fact that it has 5 distinct stages.

  1. Engagement – In initial meetings, the therapist must engage the person with the SUD and their relatives in the process. For the treatment to be effective, everyone must be willing to go through the process.
  2. Motivation – At this stage, everyone can start to discover their motivation for change. The person with the SUD must have hope that they can stay sober. The therapist will guide discussions aimed at resolving negativity. It is important that no one engages in blame during FFT.
  3. Assessment – As a group, everyone must identify hierarchies, roles, functions, and needs within their household. It is normal for the people around the person with SUD to fall into distinct roles that perpetuate dysfunction. For that dysfunction to be resolved, it’s important to identify it.
  4. Behavior Change – This is when the group can start working on the things they identified in step 3. The process varies depending on the people involved, but it often looks like resolving conflict, building healthier habits, ending cycles, and improving communication.
  5. Generalization – The group then learns to generalize the skills they learned in step 4. They will also work on building support systems, preventing relapse, and maintaining healthy communication.

Brief Strategic Family Therapy

BSFT is another type of short-term, intensive family therapy for addiction. It is based on the idea that the behavior in a family system influences the actions of the people inside it. While often used for teens who struggle with substance use, this type of treatment can also be effective for adults.

Throughout the treatment, the group works with a therapist to identify their patterns and behaviors. Although it is no one’s intention to drive a loved one towards drugs or alcohol, people can unknowingly contribute to substance abuse. It is important to voice those patterns and discuss any problems. The group must also think about their own strengths and weaknesses as a unit.

The next step is restructuring. Everyone must work together to change their patterns and behavior. This can look different depending on the needs and goals of the group. During this stage, the knowledge of strengths and weaknesses can be used to build a treatment plan.

The patient ask some question to his therapist

Therapy for Family of Addicts – Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 5 stages of family therapy programs for substance abuse?

The 5 stages are:

  1. Engagement – The therapist builds rapport and trust. The group agrees to engage in the process.
  2. Assessment – The therapist gets to know the group. They identify patterns, habits, and roles that play into substance use.
  3. Healing – The group works on resolving the things they identified in step 2.
  4. Restructuring – The therapist helps everyone change their habits and build the skills for long-term healthy relationships.
  5. Maintenance – At the end of treatment, the group receives education about relapse. The therapist also helps them make a plan to maintain sobriety.

What are the key areas of focus for family system substance abuse recovery?

SUD therapy focuses on:

  • Improving communication
  • Resolving conflict among parents, siblings, children, and extended relatives
  • Problem-solving
  • Understanding group dynamics
  • Addressing dysfunctional roles
  • Strengthening group bonds
  • Building the tools for long-term sobriety

What is the best treatment option for substance abuse recovery?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. However, treatments that include the addicted person’s household and support system can be especially effective. The exact type of family therapy for addiction will depend on the needs, goals, and dynamics of the group.

What role do relatives and loved ones play in substance use disorders?

Members of a household can have dysfunctional relationships that can contribute to one of their members abusing substances. As a result, the people around the addicted person may engage in lying, secrecy, enabling, or estrangement to cope with the behaviors.

Factors like the history of drug use among other relatives, modeled alcoholism, and normalizing substance use can contribute to SUD behavior.

What can the different types of family therapies be used for?

Some many different conditions and behaviors can be treated with group therapy. It is very effective for treating substance use disorders. This type of treatment can also be effective against eating disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and grief.

The therapist explains treatment programs offered by the Project Courage

Treatment Programs Offered at Project Courage

Project Courage offers a variety of services and treatment options for patients and their loved ones. There are 2 different ways that you can receive services: through the intensive outpatient program or through in-home recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

With outpatient treatment, you or your loved one stays at home and attends sessions at the Project Courage facility. There is also the option for virtual sessions, where you can video chat with a therapist or recovery specialist.

Because this is an intensive program, patients get 3 hours a day of treatment. The standard hours are 3:30 to 6:30 Monday to Friday.

There are a few benefits of this program:

  • Outpatient allows you to maintain your daily schedule
  • Sessions can be scheduled around work or school
  • Intensive treatment provides more support than other treatments
  • You get to sleep in your own bed and be with your loved ones during the duration of the program
  • Virtual outpatient sessions are more convenient and can be done from anywhere

In-Home Recovery Services

In-home recovery is exactly what it sounds like Project Courage therapists and specialists come to your home for treatment. This approach is ideal for family therapy for addiction. Loved ones are often more comfortable talking to a therapist in a familiar setting rather than a clinic office.

IHRS provides the same level of support as outpatient intensive care, but at a different venue. This type of treatment is more convenient. It also allows patients to approach recovery from a place of familiarity. Instead of going somewhere else to practice sobriety, they learn to transform their space into a place of recovery.

Family Services

Substance abuse does not just affect the patient. Their parents, siblings, children, friends, and relatives are all impacted by their use of drugs and alcohol.

This is why Project Courage offers:

  • Therapy for families of addicts
  • Support groups
  • Educational resources
  • Expert guidance on everything from insurance to the signs of a relapse
  • Emotional support

Begin the Path to Recovery Today!

Family therapy for addiction is one of the best methods for producing long-lasting sobriety. Since substance use affects the entire household, it is important for everyone to receive treatment, not just the person with the disorder. Project Courage offers a variety of programs that are customized to the needs of your loved ones. Call today to schedule a confidential consultation.

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Support Groups for Families of Addicts – Break the Isolation

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Addiction is a complex issue that affects not only the individual struggling with substance use but also their entire family. 

In fact, a 2023 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that 63% of family members of addicts report experiencing significant emotional distress due to their loved one’s addiction. 

Support groups for families of addicts provide a critical network of compassion and understanding, helping families navigate the challenges of addiction and recovery.

What are the best Support Groups for Families of Addicts?

Support groups for families of addicts are dedicated spaces designed to offer emotional support, coping strategies, and a sense of community to those affected by a loved one’s addiction. There are variety of support groups for families of addicts, including: 

  1. Al-Anon Family Groups
  2. Nar-Anon Family Groups
  3. Families Anonymous
  4. Family Services Programs offered by Substance Abuse & Rehab Centers

These groups help families understand addiction dynamics, share experiences and solutions, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Engage with the community to learn how support groups can transform the recovery experience for both the addict and their family.

families of addicts support

Types of Support Groups for Families of Addicts

While addiction takes its toll on the individual struggling with substance use, the impact extends far beyond. 

Family members often carry a heavy burden, experiencing emotional strain, confusion, and feelings of helplessness. Fortunately, there’s a powerful resource available: support groups.

According to a 2024 study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), 78% of families reported feeling a significant improvement in their well-being after participating in support groups. 

These groups offer a safe space to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of addiction, providing invaluable support on the path to recovery.

Here’s a look at some of the different types of support groups available for families of addicts:

1. Al-Anon

A foundational support system for families of alcoholics and addicts. Rooted in spirituality, Al-Anon promotes personal growth and fosters a sense of shared wisdom through regular open meetings.

  • Focus: Support for families of alcoholics and addicts.
  • Approach: Spiritual foundation, promoting personal growth and shared wisdom.
  • Meetings: Regular, open meetings fostering a supportive environment.

2. Nar-Anon

Designed specifically for families struggling with a loved one’s drug addiction. Based on the 12-step program, Nar-Anon meetings provide a safe space to share experiences, find acceptance, and gain support on the path to recovery.

  • Focus: Specifically designed for families of drug addicts.
  • Approach: Based on the 12-step program, focusing on acceptance and recovery.
  • Meetings: Provides a safe space for sharing challenges and triumphs.

3. Families Anonymous

Offers broader support for families dealing with any form of addiction. Emphasizing anonymity and shared experiences, Families Anonymous meetings encourage family involvement in recovery, fostering a sense of understanding and mutual support.

  • Focus: Broader support for families dealing with various forms of addiction.
  • Approach: Emphasizes anonymity, shared experiences, and mutual support.
  • Meetings: Encourages family involvement in recovery, enhancing understanding and support.

4. Family Services Programs offered by Substance Abuse & Rehab Centers

Designed to support families affected by addiction, these programs provide comprehensive assistance that emphasizes education, support, and professional guidance. Rooted in a community-based approach, Family Services Programs help families develop a deeper understanding of addiction and foster resilience through a collaborative recovery process.

  • Focus: Comprehensive support for families dealing with addiction.
  • Approach: Community-based, emphasizing education, support, and professional guidance.
  • Meetings: Includes educational sessions, support groups, and access to professional counseling, creating a supportive environment for family recovery.

Contact Project Courage for more information on joining a support group

helping families of addicts

Benefits of Joining Support Groups for Families of Addicts

For families grappling with a loved one’s addiction, the journey can feel overwhelming. Isolation and emotional strain often become significant barriers to healing. 

However, joining a support group can offer a powerful solution, extending far beyond simple emotional support.

A recent study found that 82% of families participating in support groups reported a significant increase in their sense of empowerment when dealing with addiction. 

Support groups provide a unique space for families to not only share their burdens but also gain valuable tools and resources to navigate the recovery process effectively.

Here’s a closer look at the empowering benefits of joining a support group:

  • Emotional Support: Share your journey in a supportive, understanding environment.
  • Coping Strategies: Learn how to handle complex emotions and situations.
  • Setting Boundaries: Develop skills to maintain healthy relationships.
  • Self-Care: Prioritize your well-being to better support your loved one.
  • Resources and Information: Access valuable resources to navigate the recovery process effectively.

Risks of Not Participating in Support Groups for Families of Addicts

Standing by someone battling addiction can feel isolating. 

Support groups offer a lifeline, but skipping them can lead to serious consequences. 

A 2023 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that families who did not participate in support groups were three times more likely to report experiencing clinical levels of anxiety and depression compared to those who did.

Without the support network and tools offered by groups, you might face:

  • Isolation: Feeling alone in your struggles.
  • Emotional Overwhelm: Difficulty managing emotions without support.
  • Ineffective Coping: Relying on poor coping mechanisms that can exacerbate stress.
  • Boundary Issues: Struggles with setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.
  • Lack of Information: Missing out on valuable guidance and resources.

Call today for a confidential consultation on joining a support group

support for families of addicts

Finding the Right Support Group for Your Family

Support groups offer invaluable resources, but finding the right one is key. 

Here’s what to consider:

  • Know Your Needs: What are you hoping to gain? Sharing experiences? Coping skills?
  • Research & Match: Look for groups aligned with your family’s values and specific needs (e.g., Al-Anon for families of alcoholics).
  • Try It Out: Attend meetings to find a comfortable, welcoming environment.
  • Virtual or In-Person: Choose the format that best suits your schedule and preferences.

Project Courage offers a variety of support group options specifically designed for families.

We provide a safe, supportive space for you to heal and connect with others on this journey.

Conclusion

Support groups for families of addicts play an essential role in the recovery process. 

They provide a foundation of support, education, and community that is vital for healing. If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of addiction in the family, consider reaching out to a support group.

Share this information with others who might benefit and contact Project Courage for further support

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Compassionate, Family-Based Addiction Treatment in CT

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Struggles with addiction affect more than just the addicted family member. The battle to overcome addiction and codependency can be hard for everyone. However, you and your loved ones are not alone in your journey.

At Project Courage, we center the person and their healing journey. 

Through narrative techniques, internal exploration, mindfulness, volunteering, and the power of family connections, people learn to reconnect with themselves. As you go through the healing process, you will learn to love and accept yourself as you truly are. 

This approach is uniquely effective at building the life-long confidence and self-compassion to stay clean from drugs and alcohol. 

The State of Addiction in Connecticut

Substance abuse is a silent epidemic that is responsible for tearing apart families and ending lives. 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 have reported using drugs or alcohol in the last month. Since 2020, a half a million people have died from opioid overdoses. In a world where it is easy and cheap to find your next hit, the most powerful thing you can do is to say no to the siren call of drugs and alcohol. 

Even if you have tried before, tried everything, and don’t think you can do it. You can. Recovery and healing are possible when you have the right care and support system. Continue reading to learn more about addiction treatment in Connecticut. 

Download Our Guide: Understanding Addiction and Recovery

What Are the Risks of Not Treating Addiction?

Everyone with addiction-related challenges feel like they have their usage under control. 

When your life hinges around a single goal, it can feel impossible to seek addiction treatment programs in Connecticut. However, the risks of remaining addicted are very real:

  • Loss of employment and/or housing
  • Estrangement from family and friends
  • Dangerous and erratic behavior 
  • Risk of arrest or incarceration
  • Increased chance of getting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and viral infections
  • Long-term drug use is linked to several types of cancer
  • Frontal lobe damage, resulting in memory loss
  • Poor mental health leading to suicidal thoughts and actions
  • Risk of unknowingly harming family members
  • Death 

You may believe that these are things that only happen to other people, but the risks are very real for everyone who struggles with addiction. The key to saving an addicted person’s life is early intervention with addiction treatment CT. 

Project Courage offers a variety of treatment options, from intensive outpatient programs to at home support and family services. Whether you are seeking help for yourself or for an addicted family member, contact us for more information. 

Connecticut Addiction Treatment Programs & Services that Work

No matter how hopeless things may seem, healing and recovery are always possible. Project Courage has helped many Connecticut families overcome addiction and return to a safe, happy, fulfilling life. You can read their stories here. 

At the core of Project Courage is the belief that understanding our own stories is the key to true healing. As a provider of addiction treatment in Connecticut, Project Courage offers the following services: 

  • Intensive Outpatient Programs offer flexible individual support. During an IOP, you get around 3 hours a day of treatment. For each person the type of treatment is a little different; Project Courage offers individual therapy, family therapy, group meetings, community events, and medication support. 
  • In-Home Recovery Services allow you to remain in a place where you feel safe while undergoing treatment. IHRS has all the results of a traditional rehab without the disruption to your life, social connections, and schedule. With in-home services, treatment options like therapy come to you. 
  • Family Services are available because it can be isolating for families to navigate addiction recovery. Project Courage offers support, guidance, and solidarity for the family, as well as the person in recovery. 

Call Project Courage today for a confidential consultation. 

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18 Benefits of Attending a Connecticut Addiction Treatment Program 

Many people before you have come to addiction treatment centers in CT and discovered the benefits of living a life free from drugs and alcohol. 

Physical Benefits of Getting Clean

  1. Reduction of addiction-related illnesses
  2. Improved overall health
  3. Longer life expectancy
  4. Better sleep, appetite, and mental health
  5. Return to a healthy weight
  6. Immune system will be stronger
  7. Ability to think clearly
  8. Elimination of paranoid thoughts and habits

Social Benefits of Recovering from Addiction

  1. Repair and continue your relationships
  2. Make your children and parents proud of you
  3. Be a role model for others in your community
  4. Increased involvement in the lives of your kids, siblings, and parents
  5. Ability to advance in your career 
  6. Form new friendships and relationships
  7. Take up new hobbies and interests
  8. A new social circle of friends who support recovery
  9. You can spend your money on things you enjoy, like travel
  10. Stronger community connections 

You are strong enough to begin the path of healing. Project Courage works with most insurance plans. Verify your insurance now to begin the process.

Why Choose Project Courage for Connecticut Addiction Treatment

The reason why Project Courage produces so many success stories is because our team shows up as authentic human beings. Before someone is an RN, an intake clinician, or a recovery coach, they are a human being whose lived experience and compassion are just as valuable as their knowledge of data. Our form of addiction treatment in Connecticut centers human feelings, stories, truths, and love as the driving force behind healing. 

Many of the people you work with have been where you are standing. Several members of the Project Courage team have experienced struggles with addiction or known an addicted family member. They know that recovery is not easy. They understand that it takes bravery and will to forge a new, healthy path. Above all else, we at Project Courage are on your team. There is no judgment, shame, or rejection if your path looks different than ours. 

Addiction Treatment CT Locations & Community Partners

The Project Courage is located on Elm Street in Old Saybrook where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound. Our cozy, welcoming building sits just off I-95, and is less than an hour away from both Hartford and New Haven. 

Just as each person in addiction treatment needs support and connections, our program utilizes community connections to enrich our patients and give back to the community. Each year, Project Courage hosts various events to raise money for charity. Past events have included 5Ks, softball leagues, dodgeball tournaments, and basketball matches. Our team also works with many of the local schools to help guide young people away from drugs and alcohol.

Insurance & Financing for Treatment

Project Courage offers options for financing, like interest-free payment plans. 

We will also work with your insurance. Our list of accepted insurers include: 

  • Aetna 
  • Anthem
  • Cigna
  • Magellan Healthcare
  • United Healthcare
  • Access Health CT
  • Optum

Verify your insurance to explore your financing options.

Healing is Possible with Addiction Treatment in Connecticut

Your life is too valuable to give it over to drugs and alcohol. If you or a family member struggle with addiction and codependency, there is hope. Project Courage, a Connecticut addiction treatment center, provides the support and resources for people to overcome their addict behaviors.

Every life is worth saving from the clutches of addiction. Even if the path to recovery seems impossible, you are capable of healing yourself and recapturing the life you love. 

The risks of drugs and alcohol are too great to put off treatment for another day. Call today for a confidential consultation and information on the intake process. 

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Family Roles in Addiction – 7 Roles Perpetuating Addiction

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Substance use disorders do not occur in a vacuum; the key to preventing and treating substance abuse is to understand family roles in addiction. Families of addicted loved ones often unknowingly feed the addiction by falling into dysfunctional habits. Because addiction also affects a person’s loved ones, it requires everyone to heal from that dysfunction for addiction recovery to be successful. 

How Can Family Influence Addiction?

Genetics can predispose someone to developing an addiction; however, dysfunctional family roles can drive that person to drug and alcohol dependence. When a loved one is in the throes of addiction, their behavior can affect the entire family dynamic. People can unconsciously fall into dysfunctional roles such as The Enabler as they attempt to cover for the addict. However, the family role in addiction recovery can be a powerful tool to return to sobriety. Community-based addiction treatment is one of the most successful frameworks to help an addicted person stay clean in the long term. 

Although only a single loved one has a substance abuse disorder, successful addiction treatment goes beyond just them. Family roles in addiction are simultaneously the cause, the reason for continuation, and the treatment for drug dependency. When a family can transform their dynamic and rally in support of their addicted loved one, real healing and transformation can begin. 

This article will discuss the causes of addiction and the role of group dynamics in continued substance abuse. If you have any questions about the content below, contact Project Courage for more information.

What are the Causes of Addiction?

No one intends to struggle with substance abuse and mental health, nor would anyone wish those things on any of their family members. However, if you can understand the causes of addiction, you will be in a better place to understand how your loved one fell into substance abuse. 

At the biological level, addiction is relatively straight forward. Humans are driven to do enjoyable behaviors in order to receive a chemical called dopamine. This chemical is what gives you a sense of joy or pleasure. However, maladaptive and dangerous behaviors trigger a dopamine response just as much as healthy behaviors do. When someone tries a drug or consumes alcohol and gets that dopamine rush, their brain and body wants them to continue that behavior. When someone turns to drugs and alcohol for that dopamine rush and can’t stop themselves, that is when the behavior becomes addictive. 

Over time, the body will adjust to the new normal of drugs or alcohol. You will build up a tolerance so that you will need more of a substance to get the desired dopamine response. With some drugs, like opioids, the severe withdrawal symptoms will make it painful to stop taking the drug, incentivizing addicts to continue. 

Is Addiction Hereditary or Environmental?

Very few human behaviors can be attributed exclusively to genetics or to environmental causes. Addiction is no different. Researchers agree that addiction is caused by some combination of both environmental and hereditary factors. 

Research on substance use disorders indicates that an estimated 40 to 60% of addiction risk is genetic. Even if a parent or grandparent has never experienced substance abuse issues themselves, they can still pass on the genomes that cause addiction risk.

Additionally, the social environment can also contribute to addiction, even if the addiction gene is not present. For example, if parents model addict behaviors, either knowingly or unknowingly, that can instill the seeds for addiction and codependency in their children. Parental attitudes, availability of drugs and alcohol, weak social bonds, and dysfunctional family roles can also lead to addiction. Substance abuse in teens and young adults often begins as a misguided need for autonomy.

Family roles in addiction are complex. It often takes trained addiction professionals to untangle the dysfunction that perpetuates addiction. If your loved one struggles with addiction,  schedule a consultation with a recovery expert at Project Courage. 

What is the Impact of Addiction on Families?

Addiction affects more than just the person struggling with substance abuse; struggles with addiction radiate out to affect everyone the addict knows and loves. It is common for group dynamics to adapt to a loved one’s substance use disorders, creating unhealthy coping mechanisms that encompass the entire family unit. 

New research indicates that addiction is a family disease. It is not enough for the person with addict behaviors to get clean; siblings, parents, and children should also attend therapy and support groups to help them end the cycle that allows addiction to continue. 

Download our Guide: Understanding Addiction and Recovery

How Addiction Alters Family Dynamics 

When a loved one falls into drug and alcohol dependency, it can create or exacerbate dysfunctional family roles. Siblings, parents, children, and people who struggle with addiction often report the following experiences: 

  • “Jekyll and Hyde” behavior from their loved one, creating fear and unease over which version of their family member they will get that day.
  • An atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion, and betrayal that extends beyond the person struggling with addiction.
  • Fear of relapse or overdose leads to a constant elevated state of stress, which is unsustainable. 
  • Addicted family members may engage in criminal behavior, including stealing from loved ones. 
  • The monetary side of addiction: families put a lot of resources into supporting, saving, and trying to help their loved one get clean. This can lead to economic instability and resentment. 
  • Addiction can cause estrangement when siblings, children, and parents disagree about the best course of action for their loved one.

Unpacking Common Family Roles in Addiction

Families that engage in group therapy to treat addiction often realize that their dynamics unknowingly led their loved one down the path to substance abuse. These stories and discoveries are the key in effectively treating addiction at the family level.

These are some common ways that parents unknowingly play a role in addiction:

  • Teens see their parents drinking frequently, which leads them to think that they should also drink alcohol frequently.
  • If an ill loved one has prescriptions for opioids, someone else may take one of their pills not realizing that it’s stronger and more addictive than OTC medications.
  • Young adults who feel like they don’t fit into the family unit may turn to their peers for guidance on what is right and wrong.
  • If undiagnosed mental or physical illness runs in families, it is not uncommon for self-medicating through drugs and alcohol to be normalized.
  • Young adults and teens may turn to drugs and alcohol to rebel against strict rules and high expectations 
  • Children in broken or dysfunctional families may turn to drugs and alcohol to fill an emotional void.

The 7 Family Roles in Addiction

These 7 roles frequently show up in households that are experiencing addiction:

1. The Addict

They are the central figure whose behavior impacts all other family dynamics. The addicted loved one will likely have dependent behaviors as they attempt to support an active drug or alcohol habit. In extreme cases, the addict may resort to stealing, lying, and manipulating everyone around them to secure their next hit. 

2. The Caretaker

This is the person who devotes all their energy into maintaining balance and harmony at the cost of their own needs. Caretakers may fall into increasingly more dysfunctional roles in the family to try and keep everyone around them happy at any cost. Caretakers often believe that if everyone could just get along, then the issues will disappear without having to be addressed. 

3. The Hero

Often an eldest child or a perfectionist, Type A person. They will strive for perfection in all things in order to compensate for the family issues. Heroes believe that everything will be okay if they just attain a new level of success and leadership. However, these self-induced expectations cause anxiety, depression, resentment, and other mental health challenges. 

4. The Scapegoat 

In the roles of a dysfunctional family, the scapegoat is often the youngest or middle child. They are the one who is most often blamed for all the problems. Because of this, they are incentivized to act out and get into new trouble so that they divert attention from the addict. In extreme situations, the scapegoat may be unable to manage the compounding blame and feelings of anger. The scapegoat may estrange themselves from the family in order to escape their role. 

5. The Mascot 

It is common for the mascot to be the youngest person in the family. They will use humor as a coping mechanism to bury their own fears, diffuse tension, and gain approval from those around them. The mascot is often emotionally fragile. They are unequipped to deal with negative feelings, so they become the jokester to protect themselves from the turbulent dynamics around them. Mascots often believe that if they can keep everyone around them happy and laughing, then the problems they witness will cease to exist.

6. The Lost Child 

This person is the one who is quiet, withdrawn, and overlooked. Because they are less involved in the drama and disagreement that stem from dysfunctional family roles in addiction, they receive less attention. When the lost child is routinely forgotten, they are likely to self-isolate or estrange from the rest of the family. This behavior can have a negative effect on other relationships that they pursue.

7. The Enabler 

This person will enable the addict by supporting them, making excuses for their behavior, lying to everyone around them, and not creating boundaries with the addict. Although the enabler can be anyone, it is most often a parent, grandparent, or older sibling. While enablers mean well and genuinely believe that they are doing the right thing, their behavior makes the problems of addiction and family dysfunction worse.

How to Break the Cycle

The first step in ending the destructive cycle of addiction is for everyone to understand and acknowledge the role of family in addiction. Once a family is able to see how their actions are unknowingly perpetuating dysfunction, they can take steps towards real healing. 

Project Courage is an addiction treatment center in Connecticut, which specializes in outpatient family-based recovery programs. Contact us today for more information on the intake process and your options for treatment. 

Family Roles in Addiction Prevention

While family dynamics and heredity can contribute to addiction, they can also be the solution for addiction as well. 

Substance use disorders are a life-long battle that can bring family members into dangerous, illegal, and unhealthy situations. The long-term health risks of substance abuse include cancer, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, risk of blood diseases, dental disease, weight loss, and necrosis of bowel tissue. 

The best solution for addiction is prevention. 

Here are 6 ways parents can prevent their teens from becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol: 

  1. Maintain strong family bonds by telling your kids that you love them, spending quality time together, and supporting your teen’s interests. 
  2. Lead by example: if you don’t consume alcohol or use medically unnecessary prescription drugs, your children won’t get into drugs and alcohol by trying to imitate you. 
  3. Discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with your children, no matter how old they are.
  4. Keep a close eye on any prescription drugs in the home. If a prescription painkiller is no longer needed after a medical event, dispose of the medication.
  5. Monitor your teens for changes in mood, sleep habits, school performance, and openness.
  6. Maintain open communication with your teen and remind them that you are here to help them out of trouble, not get them into trouble. 

These are hard conversations to have with teens. If you need support or resources during this process, please contact Project Courage for more information. 

Family-Based Addiction Treatment in Connecticut

As the first and strongest support system that a person can have, it is important to include the family unit in the process of healing from addiction. 

Because addiction causes family members to fall into their own dysfunctional roles, it isn’t enough to just help the addicted person get sober; everyone must find a path forward and reconfigure their group dynamic.

This is why Project Courage offers in-home, family-based, and outpatient program options. Our team believes that no person is an island, so the power of community is the best way to heal. If your loved one has a substance use disorder, contact Project Courage to learn about our intake process. 

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Why Family Support Groups Are A Crucial Part Of The Treatment Process

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Some of the most common questions and comments we at Project Courage get from loved ones of our clients are:

“What’s next for our family?”

“What do we do now?”

“Why did this happen?”

 “What should we expect from treatment?”  

The answers to all these questions are so very important. The question and comment that really strikes us here, though, is this: “I feel so alone, is anyone else going through this?” We can answer with guaranteed certainty – No, you are not alone, and YES, others are going through this too. Whether you are a parent, child, spouse, sibling, friend or someone struggling with addiction, you’re not alone and there are others going through the same thing as you, who are probably wondering if they are alone too!

We hear families say, “I feel so embarrassed, like I’m the only one going through this with my family member. No one talks about these things!”  Shame of feeling “abnormal” or that “something is wrong” with your family or loved one keeps people from talking about this and finding relief with others who are struggling as well. When a loved one is in treatment and struggling with an addiction to alcohol and drugs one of the most therapeutic activities is for family members is to participate.

We offer a family psychoeducation and support group for families that runs from 5:30-6:30pm on Mondays. It gives an overview on brain biology of addiction, key concepts family members need to know to help their loved one, and how to practice self-care. This group is perfect for families of our current clients just starting out in treatment.  

Another very popular group is Al-Anon. According to their literature, “Al-Anon members share their own experience, strength, and hope with each other. You will meet others who share your feelings and frustrations, if not your exact situation. We come together to learn a better way of life, to find happiness whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.”  Al-Anon has meetings all throughout the world.  

We encourage anyone who is interested in coming to one of our groups to reach out at 860-388-9656!  

By: KC Hespeler, LCSW

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Families In Recovery

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I grew up with an alcoholic mother and watched many people I loved, including myself struggle with drinking. “Drinking alcohol was not the problem, but there was always a problem when we drank alcohol.”  I met a man with the same affinity for drinking and we were on our merry way.   

My husband’s parents had long term, sustained recovery and were very active in Alcoholics Anonymous. We used to laugh at the pamphlets they would send and even use them as cocktail coasters. When I became pregnant and had to stop drinking, I could. My husband’s drinking continued until it became evident that he could not stop. He struggled through several recovery programs but found his way through his family and the 12 steps. 2 years before his brother found the rooms of AA. His other brother continued to struggle for a long time. Both of my husband’s grandparents were alcoholics and several of his Uncles. To say this is a family disease is an understatement.  

We all worked our programs very hard and applied the steps and principles to all areas of our lives. As most members of my husband’s family, we had two boys. They were not going to be affected by this cunning and baffling disease!…so I thought. We know so much about addiction and recovery, of course we can keep this from impacting them. The truth of the matter is, putting down the substance is the easy part. It is what addicts are trying to avoid, not feel, escape, or drown out that is the real disease. Mental health is the driving force behind addiction. Sitting in our self-defeating thoughts, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma or any other emotion is hard and substances can make that go away…for a little while. 

When several family members are in recovery it is important to remember that each person got there on their own, with their own “stuff”, so must they find recovery. 

I have had several parents come in and share their own recovery story and try to micro-manage their child’s, “because they know”. This is not entirely untrue, but do they really know? Life impacts us all differently, our resilience, our experiences and our relationships. There is no “one-size -fits-all” recovery and addiction does not discriminate. 

Autonomy in recovery is not only important, but necessary. If an individual is not doing what they need to do for themselves, then it won’t work. Many start recovery when they are given an ultimatum from a loved one, or are court ordered. This is effective for changing pathways in the brain that tell us that when we experience difficult emotions “you should drink”. We can learn coping skills, identify triggers and work on putting the substance down. To truly recover and maintain sobriety, each individual has to find their own path, what works for them. This can be Alcoholics Anonymous, Refuge Recovery or several other options. For some exercise, faith, music, art, the options are endless. Addressing mental health concerns is the difficult part. It is hard enough to identify what you may be struggling with, let alone find the solution, but it can and has been done, over and over. 

Project Courage Resources:

AA Meeting: Fridays @12noon