When a loved one struggles with a negative situation, they want to do everything they can to make them feel better. Seeing a loved one burdened by a substance or alcohol use disorder is challenging; regardless of how much you love them, you may feel emotions like anger, fear, hopelessness, fatigue, or isolation. You may wonder how you can help your loved one or why they are struggling with a substance or alcohol use disorder. Participating in family education focused on understanding substance use disorder offers a way to learn about substance or alcohol use disorders. Without family education, these disorders can negatively impact relationships.
How a Substance Use Disorder Affects the Family
Families who have a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) experience a variety of emotions and challenges. They may not know what to do or if their relationship with the person suffering from a SUD will remain intact. Family members may try to understand what their loved one is experiencing, but it’s not easy. Furthermore, while family members may perceive that any harm done isn’t intentional, it’s difficult to put aside feelings of being manipulated, deceived, or the upheaval of the family.
The relationships in a family become complicated when they’re trying to maintain a relationship with a loved one. Members of the family will take specific roles; for example, one family member can be categorized as:
- Hero – Heroes often become successful and responsible family members. They view themselves as the person to take care of the chaos caused by the person with a SUD.
- Scapegoat – The scapegoat takes the blame for family issues. Sometimes the scapegoat will participate in risky behaviors or act out. Their unhealthy behaviors are how they cope with their home life.
- Enabler – Enablers attempt to deflect or protect their loved ones from adverse consequences of their SUD. They believe they’re helping their loved ones.
- Mascot – The family member who uses humor or charisma to relieve a tense situation is trying to distract others from a difficult or painful situation.
- Forgotten child – A family member who feels ignored or invisible is the forgotten child. The forgotten child often pulls away from family situations to avoid conflict.
Whatever role a person plays in their family can hurt themselves and their relationships. This is why when their loved one begins treatment for a SUD, it is beneficial to participate in family education. Additionally, participating in family education while their loved one is in recovery is vital.
Joining a Family Education Group
When a family joins a family education group, they take steps to heal themselves and their relationships. Families need to build a healthy foundation of education and understanding before they can begin the healing process. Family education includes learning about family members’ roles when coping with a loved one with a SUD. They can discuss their role in the family while working on understanding their feelings.
Substance or alcohol use (AUD) disorders can negatively affect the relationships within the family. However, a SUD or AUD can be challenging to understand for some family members. While some may know how an SUD affects their loved one’s behaviors and body, others may not. Family education sessions are helpful because the family learns about the nature of substance use disorder. In some cases, this can eliminate any stigma attached to a SUD. They can learn how substances affect their loved one’s body and brain. During sessions, family members are given the chance to work with each other and their loved ones to explore functional changes in their roles. At Renaissance Ranch, we encourage family members to engage in family education opportunities.
The Benefits of Family Education
When your loved one is immersed in their SUD treatment, they are learning about their SUD and how it affects their body, brain, and relationships. Their participation in evidence-based therapies, including a 12-Step Program, provides them with healthy life skills. However, without the support of their family, treatment and recovery can leave issues unresolved. Families who actively engage in family education groups and their loved one’s treatment and recovery provide support and strength. Having loved ones participate in groups or sessions can increase the chances of successful program completion and treatment outcomes.
The involvement of family members in their loved one’s treatment and recovery can maintain their loved one’s motivation in recovery. Another benefit to family education is the reduced risk of children and young adults being exposed to violence or forming an SUD. Here at Renaissance Ranch, we know the importance of children having solid and loving bonds with their parents. Our holistic program empowers fathers to reclaim and build healthy relationships with their children. While participating in the program, fathers are working to foster personal growth and healthy family dynamics.
Fostering Healthy Relationships
Family education’s impact on family members has a lasting benefit: the ability to heal. Families can grow together, rebuild, and repair damaged relationships. A SUD or AUD can inhibit personal and familial improvement. That’s why it is essential to discuss with a therapist or group how substance use has affected everyone in the family. Your loved one can work on identifying triggers and learn how to replace adverse behaviors with healthy behaviors. While in treatment, they can also discover how to become a healthy part of the family.
Families can heal when they learn through family education how a substance use disorder affects their loved one and the family. Unhealthy roles are addressed, and positive life skills are replaced by unhealthy coping mechanisms. Family education is a way to come together and heal.
Family education groups, sessions, or therapy help family members understand their loved one with a substance use disorder. Through education, family members can better understand how substance use affects their loved ones and their families. Family education can help family members discover the roles they have in family dynamics and how to replace unhealthy behaviors with healthy behaviors. The benefits of family education are vast. When a family is involved in a loved one’s treatment and recovery, they help keep their loved one motivated during treatment and recovery. The family can also find ways to repair healthy relationships that were damaged because of their loved one’s substance use. To learn more call (801) 308-8898.