As a family facilitator for substance abuse treatment, I have been given the opportunity to experience and to observe the healing process begin in the loved ones of those addicted to drugs and alcohol. The most common obstacles that I have witnessed in loved ones participating in family substance treatment, but are not limited to; denial, loss of one\’s identity and fear. Most of the time it appears the family members have hit their emotional bottoms long before the chemically dependent person has hit theirs.

The most important thing for somebody who is affected by someone else\’s drinking or using is to be able to admit they have been affected by somebody else\’s drinking or using. Denial seems to be the most serious obstacle to them getting help. Once the family members or loved one can admit they need treatment the healing process can begin. Sometimes they arrive to participate in the family program refusing to acknowledge or accept they have a problem and some have already surrendered to the idea that the disease of addiction has affected them, also. Many times they are exhausted with having to take care of the chemically dependent person, which leads them to the loss of their own identity.

It appears there are numerous ways in which they have lost who they are and what is important to them by the negative chain reaction of the disease of substance dependence, sometimes beginning with simply loving the addicted person and possibly ending with feeling completely responsible for the chemically dependent person. This can include financial responsibilities, emotional, mental and even physical well being of the addicted person. In doing so they lose themselves and the substance abuse family program encourages the family members to begin taking care of themselves because they are deserving of and they are worth it. It is at this point that they appear to gain the hope they need to seek the help they need to live with this disease whether the addicted person is recovering or not.

Once the family members or loved ones admit they need treatment and begin taking care of themselves, they are likely to begin experiencing fear of the unknown. Such as: How the addict or alcoholic will care for themselves without their help. Will they be able to stay clean or sober? What happens if they can\’t? Will the addicted person be responsible? How will they pay their bills? Etc. This is usually when I encourage them to continue to focus on themselves, to attend regular Al-Anon meetings and to get an Al-Anon sponsor to help them along in their own treatment. I also remind them that can only help themselves, change themselves and they deserve recovery.

One of the gifts of working with the family members or loved ones in the family program is to witness and be a part of turning desperation into hope. Family members arrive to treatment most of the time in the depths of despair and leave with a smile and a sparkle in their eye with hope for the future.

Learn more at www.valleyhope.org or
www.valleyhope.org/drug-rehab-alcohol-rehab-aboutus.aspx.

Learn more at http://www.valleyhope.org or
http://www.valleyhope.org/drug-rehab-alcohol-rehab-aboutus.aspx.

Author Bio: Learn more at www.valleyhope.org or
www.valleyhope.org/drug-rehab-alcohol-rehab-aboutus.aspx.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: substance abuse treatment, drug rehab, family of addicted, family help, overcoming denial, al-anon