How Family Programs Work for Addiction

Possibly the most important thing that addiction impacts is the family. It can cause divorce, it can break trust, it can ruin childhoods, and it can break apart an otherwise loving family dynamic. This is why family programs are so important during the recovery process, especially if your family has been severely damaged. Many people feel as if it is up to the individual to get help for themselves and don’t see the need to get the whole family involved — but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Find out how family programs work for addiction and why it is essential to involve the whole family.

Family Support

Addiction makes people act in ways they normally wouldn’t while they are sober. This causes a lot of damage within the home and family, both emotionally or physically. It is important for the individual going through treatment to be able to lean on their support system, and there is no better support system than families.

It is also important for the family to receive support for what they have experienced as a result of their loved one’s addiction. These can include:

• Living in a stressful, volatile, and negative environment
• Experiencing abuse, whether emotional or physical
• Acting as an enabler
• Self-blaming for the addiction
• Being stolen from or taken advantage of by a loved one
• Trauma from being in scary situations, such as searching for a loved one in a scary neighborhood at a late hour or staying up late worrying
• Financial or health issues that stem from a loved one’s addiction

Healing Bonds in Family Programs

Addiction can cause a lot of chaos and turmoil and when an individual enters rehab, the family feels as if it is left to pick up the pieces. In fact, a family program will help teach the family how to pick up the pieces and help put it back together.

Relationships within the family become very strained due to addiction, and long-term successful recovery relies on repairing these relationships. The more the family understands how addiction works and how to help their loved one, the better the chances are of successful sobriety.

The Sunshine Club

Children are especially vulnerable in these situations. That’s where our Channel Islands Sunshine Club provides real illumination. Designed for children aged 4 through 17, the Club helps them to get in touch with their feelings and understand the decisions you as a parent has made. Kids learn how to become more resilient and find a greater sense of stability, which helps reduce their own risk for any possible future behavioral or substance abuse problems.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

While an individual is in recovery, it is essential for the family to set healthy boundaries in a safe space, such as rehab. Having a neutral party, such as a therapist, help to set these boundaries, it will put the individual on the right track to a successful long-term recovery.

Examples of healthy boundaries include:

• No alcohol in the home. The family will need to agree that there will be no alcohol in the home – not just for the individual suffering from addiction, but for everybody. By having a dry household, it will lessen temptation and reduce the risk for an opportunistic relapse.
• Curfew hours. The old saying “nothing good happens after midnight” applies here — by being home at a decent hour and not staying out late, the temptation for relapse greatly decreases. This can go for the whole family as well so that the individual recovering from addiction doesn’t feel singled out.
• Set realistic expectations. Chances are, the individual suffering from addiction has missed out on a lot. This includes birthdays, children’s sports games, or other important events. Family members have likely heard promises time and time again to only be let down. Instead of overpromising, rebuilding trust can start by setting realistic expectations. This can include things such as ice cream dates every Saturday, or working on a puzzle for 30 minutes a night. Then, slowly work your way up to fulfilling larger promises.
• Breaking off toxic friendships. As addiction worsens, social circles begin to change in favor of toxic friendships that center around substance abuse. The family can agree to cut off these toxic relationships and for consequences to be in place if communication is made.

Aftercare Plans

While the individual is in treatment, it is important for the whole family to agree on an aftercare plan. The family needs to know their role to be able to support their loved one through the aftercare plan, and the individual needs to understand what consequences may be in place if it is not followed. Examples of aftercare plans include:

• Entering a sober living facility before entering back home
• Continuing outpatient treatment on a daily basis for a specified amount of time
• Attending meetings on a regular basis
• The family providing transportation and shelter in exchange for their loved one staying on their aftercare track
• The family recognizing the signs and symptoms of a possible relapse
• The individual listening to the family if they express concern about a possible impending relapse

About Channel Islands Rehab

Even though addiction can be extremely damaging to the family, the good news is that family programs work for addiction. The family bond can be repaired, relationships can be rebuilt, and their loved one can live a happy, healthy life in recovery if everyone is on board.

The Channel Island Rehab Total Immersion Method is not an out-of-the-box approach to addiction treatment, like many other rehabs. It is unique in that it involves specifically around you and your individual, unique needs. No two people’s journeys are the same at Channel Islands Rehab, allowing for the best chances for long-term success.

Complementing these vital treatments and therapies is our powerful, unwavering ring of support. Through these collaborative efforts, we help you to uncover the underlying issues of your addiction. Our ultimate goal is for you to leave the facility strong and confident, with a practical plan for lasting recovery.

At Channel Islands Rehab Treatment Center, we work to make your residential stay pleasant and stress-free. Our beautiful, calming home, located only one-half block from the ocean, gives you an opportunity to relax and reassess your direction in life. The facility overlooks the harbor, providing the most appealing of settings for reconnecting with yourself.

For more information, visit channelislandsrehab.com