Support for Loved Ones

Support for Loved Ones of Addicts

If you are the loved one of an addict, it is important to seek out support to help on the road to recovery. This can be in family meetings, therapy, and organizations such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and NAMI. These resources can provide you with guidance and understanding as you deal with your loved one’s addiction.

Advice for Family & Friends 

It can be difficult to know what to do if you have a friend or family member struggling with addiction. You may feel helpless, frustrated, and angry. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone.

Many resources can help you deal with your loved one’s alcohol or drug addiction. Organizations such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and NAMI can provide support and guidance. In addition, family meetings can be a helpful way to communicate and develop a plan of action.

The term “child of an alcoholic” (COA) describes a person raised in a household where one or more alcoholic parents were present. As a result, COAs often grow up feeling isolated, ashamed, and confused. They may also struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you are an adult child of an alcoholic, it is important to seek support from organizations such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and NAMI. They can provide guidance and understanding as you deal with your parent’s addiction.

Taking Care of Yourself So You Can Care For Others

Caring for a loved one with addiction can be taxing emotionally and physically. Therefore, it is important to take care of yourself so that you can be there for your loved one. This includes getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. Additionally, it may be helpful to find a support group or counselor to talk to.

Mutual Support Groups

These groups provide support for the loved ones of addicts. In addition, they offer understanding and guidance as you deal with your loved one’s addiction.

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA, a well-known mutual help group, is open to anyone who wants to stop drinking or maintain abstinence. AA offers in-person meetings, and members are encouraged to work through the 12 Steps of AA under the guidance of a sponsor who has experienced all of the steps themselves.

Dual Recovery Anonymous

Drug and alcohol addiction, as well as other behavioral health conditions involving engagement in problematic use of drugs and alcohol, such as depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, or others, are all part of the Drug Rehabilitation Anonymous (DRA) group. The group is non-professional and overseen by peers, focusing on abstinence and using the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps.

HAMS (Harm Reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support)

HAMS is a free online support group that helps people set and achieve their own goals regarding drinking, whether that means reducing alcohol intake or quitting entirely. HAMS provides information and peer-led support via forums (chat room, email group, Facebook group), podcasts, and articles.

LifeRing Secular Recovery

LifeRing is a non-religious, peer-led program based on the concept of sobriety, secularity, and self-help. LifeRing does not offer any step-by on how to achieve sobriety; instead, it provides non-religious peer support to individuals in recovery from alcohol or other non-medically indicated substances.

Moderation Management

MM is a program for people who want to reduce their drinking. MM does not see alcohol abuse as a disease but rather a behavior that can be unlearned. To achieve this, MM members set their own goals and are given guidance on how much they should drink, different techniques to help them reach these goals, and a nine-step cognitive-behavioral change program.

Groups for Family and Friends

Al-anon

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for friends and family members of alcoholics. Al-Anon meetings provide support and understanding for those affected by someone else’s drinking.

Nar-anon

Nar-Anon is a 12-step program for friends and family members of addicts. Nar-Anon meetings provide support and understanding for those affected by someone else’s addiction.

NAMI

NAMI provides support and education for families and individuals affected by mental illness. They offer resources, support groups, and educational programs.

Family Therapy

Family therapy can be a helpful way to communicate and develop a plan of action. In addition, this type of therapy can help families understand addiction and its effect on the family. Family therapy can also help families develop coping and problem-solving skills.

Supporting Your Loved One

The process of detox is the most difficult aspect of treatment. The body signals that it requires drugs or alcohol to feel normal, making sobriety hard to maintain. There are, however, methods you may use to assist your loved one in maintaining sobriety.

People in detox require as much love and support as possible in addition to medical care. You’ve made the first and most crucial step by studying everything you can about addiction and the detoxification procedure. Apply your expertise with kindness.

A crucial component in understanding how to help a loved one during withdrawals is picturing life after they leave rehabilitation. You should start making your home safe for their return. Some ways you can make your house better are: