Overcoming addiction is a tremendous feat that requires ongoing work even after detox and addiction treatment. The initial stages of your treatment may focus on managing withdrawal symptoms and discovering the underlying causes of substance abuse. While individual counseling is the cornerstone of a successful recovery, healing damaged relationships with your loved ones will also play an important role. This will be easier for some than others, depending on how your addiction affected your relationships, but you can rebuild trust and support with the help of family therapy.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we understand the challenges of repairing relationships after rehab, so we offer a family therapy program as part of our addiction treatment. Family dynamics present a unique obstacle in recovery, but you and your loved ones can heal together with counseling. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about mending relationships in recovery.
The Challenges of Family Dynamics in Recovery
Addiction can be devastating to relationships with those closest to you, particularly family members. The impact of addiction is different depending on the family dynamics involved. Some typical relationship issues that develop due to addiction can include:
- A role reversal between parent and child if the parent struggles with addiction – The child may assume responsibilities beyond their years to help a parent who cannot follow through on their responsibilities due to intoxication or hangovers. The child may resent the parent for putting them in that position down the road. They may also be at a higher risk of slipping into addiction themselves.
- One spouse picking up slack for the other who struggles with addiction – A spouse may need to run interference between the loved one with an addiction and their responsibilities. For example, a wife may be expected to call in sick for her husband when he is actually hungover or still intoxicated. A husband may make excuses why his wife does not attend family gatherings when she is crashing from drug use.
- A parent developing a codependent relationship with a child struggling with addiction – Parents may be afraid to rock the boat and instead coddles their child and refuses to face the reality of their addiction.
These are just a few examples of common family dynamics that develop during an addiction.
How Do You Repair Relationships After Rehab?
Once you have done the hard work of getting through withdrawal and addiction treatment, you will need to change your life to help sustain your recovery. Even if you are no longer using drugs or alcohol, some family members may harbor anger or resentment from your active addiction. To fully heal, you and your loved ones will need to attend family therapy sessions. Family counseling helps mend relationships by:
- Bringing to light the impact that addiction had on your loved ones
- Allowing each family member to express their feelings, to hear and be heard
- Having the person in recovery own up to the hurt they caused their loved ones
- Learning healthy communication skills
- Understanding the difference between codependency and being supportive
- Learning how to set and follow through with healthy boundaries
By working through all of the issues caused by addiction, your family will be able to heal together. Sweeping the problems under the rug or living in denial will not serve you or your loved ones well. Commit to family therapy to clear the air and get a fresh start.
Seek Recovery at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
While we cannot promise that all of your relationships can be repaired after rehab, Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston is here to help you make amends where possible. Our family therapy programs will help your loved ones work together to support your recovery and move past old hurts. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
