Those who struggled with addiction aren’t the only ones impacted, as friends and family must heal from the pain that addiction brings, too. Addiction has the propensity to pull our loved ones away from us, sometimes to a point of barely recognizing those we love. Healing is vital to recovery for friends and family and part of this involves education. Knowledge is power and the more we learn about addiction and how it’s affecting our loved ones, the better we’re able to make sense of our experiences.
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery emphasized that family functioning can change greatly when addiction is involved, as some family members may need to take on new roles that an addicted loved one can no longer fulfill. The strain of these changes and the emotions that come with this type of event can create a sense of unbalance for families and family education groups strive to promote togetherness by informing individuals of the many facets of addiction and recovery:
- What addiction is and how it affects the mind, body and spirit
- Coping skills
- Establishing healthy boundaries
- Warnings and signs of enabling addiction
- 12-Step program information and involvement
As Harvard Medical School noted in 2017, individual family members often suffer alone, making it vital for them to seek help individually as well. The effects of addiction impact people differently and in order for a family to better function as a whole, individual family members must work on recovery alone, too.
If you’re ready to begin your journey to recovery, speak with a professional from Cumberland Heights today. The time to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit is now.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of 2 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
