Family member substance abuse can be difficult to manage.
Dealing with a family member who is abusing substances frequently leaves one feeling lost, frustrated, and powerless. In fact, having to watch a loved one—a parent, sibling, spouse, or child—face addiction can have a severely negative impact on YOUR mental health. Depending on how far it has progressed, it can actually cause you, the family member, to have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In these situations, the wisest step for you, as a supportive family member, can actually be for YOU to start working with an addiction therapist!
Ironically, although we can never control what someone else will do, by learning to control OUR own behavior, we can sometimes either spark a desire for change or gain clarity for ourselves.
Addiction affects the entire family system, so it is frequently referred to as a “family disease.” Family members of addicts frequently feel a variety of emotions, such as fear, humiliation, guilt, and rage. Therapy offers a secure setting in which to explore these emotions and begin to comprehend the dynamics at work in your family.
It is such a relief to not have to face it alone anymore and to have access to some guidance. The hardest part can sometimes be simply not knowing what to do.
Family members impacted by addiction frequently try to support the addict by taking on some of their responsibilities in order to reduce the addict’s stress levels. This, in itself, is a condition called “codependency”. Family members who receive therapy are better able to identify when to prioritize their own health and how to set appropriate limits instead. Additionally, therapy provides valuable information about addiction that is not commonly understood.
When dealing with the substance abuse of a loved one, there is also often a breakdown of communication, which can exacerbate a variety of issues. Therapy can help you strengthen your communication abilities so you can more effectively communicate your worries and feelings while simultaneously cultivating compassion and understanding.
Alcoholism/addiction of your loved one is NEVER your fault—but how you respond matters.
What may often be a loving response for many of life’s challenges, because addiction has unique dynamics, the more you DO for someone who is vulnerable to addiction, the less they do for themselves. The ways we instinctively respond is often a form of enabling, no matter how well intentioned. Consequently, I provide education on what is ACTUALLY helpful and what is, in fact, not helpful.
Alcoholism and addiction can take a long time to resolve. I provide compassionate coaching for how to take care of yourself as the process unfolds, as well as the most effective ways to interact with your loved one.
Many people who find themselves loving an addict will wonder how this happened to them. I also offer deeper clinical therapy to help them understand their own vulnerabilities that influenced their choices along the way. We always feel more empowered when we understand what happened and how to move forward in order to shape a different outcome.
If you are dealing with family member substance abuse in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area, reach out to me at Serenity4U today.
At Serenity4U, I am proud to offer counseling for those dealing with family member substance abuse in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Durham, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
