Is your partner or child an alcoholic or addict? Has your family suffered the pains of living with a practicing alcoholic? You are not alone.
According to a recent survey conducted by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s roughly one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12 and the sad truth is that those numbers continue to rise daily.
In the midst of helping your loved one find the path to recovery you may have found yourself getting lost in the process. We have compiled these Tips for Families of Alcoholics and Addicts to help you on your own journey to recovery as well.
- Self-Care. When was the last time you did something just for yourself that didn’t involve helping your loved one? Make sure you are taking time to do things just for you. Living with and/or taking care of an addict is an emotional roller coaster. Carve out some down time for yourself so you can decompress!
- Educate Yourself. You’ve been schooled in the firsthand effects of a practicing alcoholic or addict. Now is a chance for you to get educated on how addiction works. Most treatment facilities offer education for family members and partners. These can be essential for your healing and dealings with your loved one.
- Find Support. Even after alcoholics get into recovery, many families still live in crisis mode, unable to begin the healing process out of fear that their loved one may relapse. It is crucial for you to allow yourself a chance to heal. Talk to a therapist or seek out support groups specifically tailored for family members and loved ones of alcoholics and addicts. Surround yourself with people that have lived through similar circumstances and you will be surprised at how un-alone you will begin to feel. Remember, recovery is a group effort. No one can do it alone.
My brother has dealt with a drug addiction for about five years. He recently went and had treatment done, but our family is really still in the crisis mode that this post talks about. This is his first time going through recovery and I have heard many stories about how people continue to relapse and it could take many different times trying to quit. I’m not saying that I expect him to fail, but I am wondering if there are resources to help our family as we go through this roller coaster? I think that counseling would be a good idea to start with, though.