Involving your family in the progress of your treatment has many benefits. However, it can be challenging to open up to your family about your substance use and give them honest updates on your treatment progress, especially when dealing with setbacks. Creating a basic structure of honesty for your family to rely on can ease the stress of being away from your family members. Informing your family unit of your recovery process can accelerate your process in recovery and help you establish a strong support system before completing treatment.
Addiction Affects Entire Families
Substance abuse and addiction don’t just affect you; they affect your entire family unit and those you love. Your struggles with addiction may have led to damaged family dynamics, a loss of trust, and weakened communication. As a result, your loved ones may have felt hopeless while watching you struggle. However, involving your family in treatment can help restore what was damaged. Family members can play a significant role in your treatment process and overall recovery.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a form of therapy that can benefit you and your family in your treatment process. Families that attend family therapy often end up having a stronger home-based structure for all family members. If you do not have a positive current relationship with your family members, a therapist can help to re-establish your relationship on new terms that benefit both parties. Family therapy provides a safe space for you to work through some of your family issues that could potentially be contributing to your substance abuse.
If you currently have a good relationship with your family, family therapy can still be helpful. This form of therapy can provide you with a safe space to open up to your family about your treatment process with the support of a therapist. A therapist can help you communicate with your family productively. They can also help relieve the stress your family may feel while discussing your treatment. Many individuals who engage in family therapy throughout their treatment process notice an overall strength in their relationship with their family members.
Creating a Support System
One of the most significant benefits of involving your family in your treatment is that you are establishing a support system for yourself in the outside world. When you complete treatment and get ready to leave, there will still be work to do in order to adjust to everyday life while still maintaining sobriety. Part of relapse prevention is support from others.
However, finding a strong support system can be challenging and take time. Having your family as an immediate support system upon completing treatment can ease a great deal of stress. Having immediate support can prevent you from feeling alone after leaving treatment and provide you with a support system of individuals who will hold you to your boundaries.
A Deeper Understanding
Involving family in your treatment process also allows your family to gain a better understanding of addiction and your struggles. Whether through education from a treatment facility or online, once your family knows you are struggling, they will likely be more than willing to learn about addiction. Education can help your family see that addiction is a disease that had taken hold of you and that you did not have intentions of maliciously hurting them.
Establishing Boundaries
Your family’s involvement in the treatment process can also help you and your loved ones learn to set and enforce healthy boundaries. Boundaries can help keep your recovery safe and help your family members have a plan in place once you complete treatment. For example, you may learn how to effectively set the boundary of no family members drinking alcohol or using drugs around you. On the other hand, your family members may learn how to set the boundary of no longer helping you out financially, encouraging you to find employment and become independent now that you are sober.
Benefits for Family Members
Watching a member of your family struggle with addiction can be mentally tiring. In general, your family members want the best for you. They want to watch you succeed and live a happy and fulfilled life. Providing awareness to your family during setbacks and progressions in your recovery can help to relieve stress throughout this process. Hearing about setbacks in your treatment can be difficult for your loved ones to hear, but it is beneficial for them to know the truth about your standpoint. Allowing your family members the time they need to cope with your treatment updates can help avoid an overload of information further on in the process.
Returning home from treatment to a family that is well educated throughout the process of your recovery helps them to recognize warning signs that you may be reverting to your old behavior. Having the family unit observe your transition allows them to help hold you accountable and work towards your goals. It is highly encouraged to inform your family members of your specific goals and the stepping stones you plan to take to reach them.
Keeping your family informed of your addiction treatment progress can be intimidating. However, there are many benefits your family can bring you when you involve them in treatment. Whether your current relationship with your family is positive or negative, there are aspects of involvement that can help you to progress on a personal level. Use your family unit to help you and improve the structure of relationships in your life. Updating your family and working with them through your progress can provide you with a long-term support system and individuals willing to hold you accountable for your actions. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, Dream Recovery is here to help. Our facility can help you gain the tools and coping skills you need to change your life and identify what you need to move forward to the next level and break through the chains of addiction. For more information, call us today at (949) 732-1960.