Relationships can take quite a hit when addiction takes hold of someone’s life. A large part of getting treatment for addiction is doing work on repairing important relationships and also learning skills for building healthy relationships going forward. Family therapy is highly recommended as part of a customized treatment plan so that you can work together with family and therapists to understand the root causes of addiction and why relationships can fracture, so that amends can be made if possible.
To find out more about a family counseling program in Austin, call The Arbor today at 844.413.2690.
Addiction and Relationships
The first step to repairing damaged relationships is focusing on your sobriety. Once you can successfully rid your body of substances and do the work necessary for yourself, you can then focus on fixing relationships that are important and people who can support your recovery. Honest conversations must be had, and this is where family therapy can really help. Family may not understand how much addiction can control your life, how much work you will have to do to overcome that, and the damage that may have been done as a result.
If you have a significant other, it’s crucial that they understand what your commitment to treatment and recovery will look like and how they can help you as you are making amends. If your relationship was able to weather your addiction, then it is worth it to both put in the effort to foster and rebuild the relationship for the better in your recovery.
Going through a treatment program will not magically make all the bad things that happened while you were in the throes of addiction go away. You will have to work hard on rebuilding trust. Also, you’ll have to convince those you care about that you can change for the better. Family programs can assist in fostering this dialogue.
Some steps that you can take to help repair important relationships with family are:
- Doing so with professional help
- Admitting that you have a problem and that you made poor choices
- Taking ownership of damaged relationships
- Take action
- Be patient with family as they try to trust you again
- Keep an open line of honest communication
How Can a Family Program Help?
At The Arbor, family support meetings welcome all of those close to you to participate. That way, your treatment and recovery are the most inclusive experience possible. This opportunity also allows family members to be more understanding of what you are going through. Also, they’ll be better equipped to fully support you in your recovery. Family members are able to meet other families going through the same experience with a loved one and build their own group of peers as well.
Everyone who has a close relationship with the addicted person can be affected by addiction. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are the national organizations that are the basis of these family support groups. Both organizations exist for family members to better support a loved one struggling with addiction. Meetings help families better understand addiction and allow an opportunity for families to heal.
Topics can include:
- The 12-steps
- Boundaries
- Emotions
- How to explain addiction to different family members
- How to best support a loved one
Get the Support You Need for Addiction and Relationships at The Arbor
To repair important relationships with family, involving them in your treatment and recovery is key. Through family therapy and support groups, they can be an integral part of helping you live a life without substances and support you in your recovery once you leave treatment. Helping them understand how addiction affects relationships will better position the possibility of rebuilding relationships that may have been damaged.
Call the team at The Arbor today at 844.413.2690 to learn about treatment options and family support programs in Austin, Texas.