The actions of a family member suffering from addiction
inevitably affects the whole family. A support group can be very beneficial in
helping a family heal from the impacts of addiction and increase the chances of
their loved one’s recovery long-term. Find out where you can find support.
The family
members of those addicted to drugs often suffer just as much emotionally and
physically as the family member who is addicted to drugs. However, many
families do not realise that there are support groups available that can help
them cope.
Addiction is sometimes referred to as
a ‘family disease,’ as one family member’s addiction affects the entire family
unit. Family members can develop
patterns of co-dependency in order to cope with the unpredictable actions of
the addicted family member. Familial conflict as well as deep-seeded shame and
denial are among some of the many ways addiction negatively impacts families.
Feelings of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety are also common.
Family members can get so caught up in trying to help and care
for their addicted family member that they forget to care for themselves. It
can be difficult for loved ones to reach out for support, but it is one of the
most important things families can do not only for themselves but also for
their addicted loved one. Luckily, there are many support groups for families
of addicts available to help family members regain a sense of hope and better
understand the disease of addiction.
Support
Groups for Families of Those Addicted to Drugs
The following list includes different types of family support
groups that take place around the world. They all have the same goal of
offering a safe place for people who love an addicted person to come together
and learn ways to cope with their situation.
. These groups offer a safe and
confidential place for loved ones of addicts to know that they are not alone,
where they can learn that they have choices that can lead to greater peace of
mind whether their loved one continues to use drugs or not.
These 12-Step support groups for families of addicts are not
affiliated with any religion but are spiritual in-nature. Attending meetings
will help members learn about the disease of addiction and adopt an honest and
consistent approach toward the addicted person in their life, which in turn
could encourage their addicted loved one to seek their own treatment.
Step Together
Step Together is a family support group in Delhi, India, that was created in
conjunction with the 1st Step
Recovery Café. Recovery
Café provide opportunities for people recovering from addiction to learn job
skills and form a sense of community. The 1st Step Recovery Café was successful in its first year and
continues to help addicts, but the founders recognised that family members of
addicts need support as well, which is why they started the Step Together
family support group.
The Step Together group follows the SMART (Self Management and
Recovery Training) programme to help people learn about addiction and how to
care for themselves while trying to help their loved one with addiction.
“People are unaware how traumatic it can be for relatives living with someone
who is an addict. With greater understanding of the nature of addiction,
sharing with those who have similar difficulties and helping them learn new
ways of responding to loved ones, participant’s lives can and will improve.”
Family Drug Support
India
Family Drug Support India is a network of support groups for families of those addicted to
drugs began in India in 2006 after the founder lost his son to a heroin
overdose. Family Drug Support offers throughout India non-religious support
meetings that are open to anyone who would like to talk with and listen to
others who share similar experiences in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
The organisation also has a 24-hour
support line.
Family
Addiction Treatment Programmes
The support groups for families of addicted people that are
listed above are helpful for family members whose loved one is either actively
addicted or already in recovery. Sometimes attending family support groups will
help you stop enabling and therefore lead the addicted person in your life to
eventually seek the help that he or she needs. Once in an addiction treatment
programme, continued family support can have positive outcomes on the addicted
person’s ability to recover.
Shafa Home offers a unique family treatment programme where family members join their addicted loved one participate in a series of treatment related
activities. This intensive programme is led by addiction specialists and serves
to educate family members about the disease of addiction and how it is treated.
The course also helps them better understand how they can best support their
family member during and after treatment.
In addition to participating in psycho-educational groups,
family members meet with their loved one’s counsellor, as well as have family
therapy sessions that will put the entire family on the road to healing and
long-term addiction recovery.
Family members are encouraged to continue seeking support by
attending one of the support groups for families of addicts even after their
loved one has completed drug rehab.
No matter what stage of addiction
your loved one is in, getting
support, learning about addiction, and caring for yourself are some of
the best things you can do to help.
Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of
alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for
females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like
gambling, internet etc.
( These Articles are the sole property
of “ The Cabin Chiang Mai “ , they are its original
authors )
No comments:
Post a Comment