Category: Family

Family involvement can play a crucial role in the recovery process from addiction. Addiction is often described as a “family disease” because it affects not only the person with the addiction but also their loved ones. Therefore, it’s essential to involve the family in the recovery process.

Here are some reasons why family involvement is important in addiction recovery:

1. Support: Family members can provide emotional support to the person in recovery. They can be a source of encouragement and motivation, which can help the person stay committed to their recovery.
2. Understanding: Family members can learn about addiction and the recovery process, which can help them understand what their loved one is going through. This understanding can help them be more patient and empathetic, and can also help them avoid unintentionally enabling the addiction.
3. Accountability: Family members can help the person in recovery stay accountable for their actions. They can monitor the person’s progress and provide positive reinforcement when they achieve their goals.
4. Communication: Addiction can often strain relationships, and communication can become difficult. Family involvement in recovery can help improve communication within the family, which can strengthen relationships and make it easier to work through any issues that may arise.
5. Education: Family members can learn about addiction and how to support their loved one in recovery. They can also learn about resources available to them and their loved one, such as support groups or counseling services.

Overall, family involvement is important in addiction recovery because it can provide support, understanding, accountability, improved communication, and education. With the help of their loved ones, a person in recovery can have a better chance of overcoming their addiction and maintaining long-term sobriety.

The family systems model of treatment is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the dynamics of the entire family rather than just the individual with the identified problem. This approach recognizes that the family unit is a complex system, and issues within the family are interconnected and affect everyone in the family.

The family systems model of treatment involves the following principles:

1. Systems thinking: The family is viewed as a system, and the focus is on understanding the interactions and relationships among family members.
2. Circular causality: This principle recognizes that problems within the family are caused by circular interactions among family members, rather than by any one individual.
3. Family homeostasis: This principle suggests that families tend to resist change, and any changes made in the family system can have a ripple effect on the entire family.
4. Family roles: Each family member has a role within the family system, and these roles can affect the dynamics of the family.
5. Communication patterns: Communication within the family is a critical aspect of the family system. The way family members communicate with each other can impact the overall functioning of the family.

The goal of the family systems model of treatment is to improve the overall functioning of the family system by addressing issues within the family as a whole. Treatment may involve individual therapy for family members, family therapy, or a combination of both. The therapist may also work with the family to identify patterns of interaction that are causing problems and help them develop new, healthier ways of communicating and interacting with each other.

Overall, the family systems model of treatment recognizes that the family is a complex system, and problems within the family cannot be addressed by focusing solely on one individual. By addressing issues within the family as a whole, the family systems model of treatment aims to improve the overall functioning of the family and promote positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate information, we make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Substance abuse can affect the entire family. Many times, the individual suffering with drug or alcohol abuse may see their problem as only hurting themselves, when, in reality, it is far more damaging to everyone involved.

Everyone in the family system begins to adopt and create coping strategies in order to endure and navigate life with someone addicted to substances. Negative coping skills can have long term effects on family members.

Traditionally, there are six roles commonly identified in the family members that live with someone abusing substances. They are:

• The Addicted
• Enabler
• Hero
• Scapegoat
• Mascot
• Lost child

The Addicted

Drugs or alcohol can become the main strategy for coping with problems and/or difficult emotions for some. A dependency can develop, and the individual can begin to destroy their relationships because of their desire to manipulate, lie, and behave in negative ways to preserve their addiction. As they become more angry, unstable, isolated, guilty and shameful their actions begin to affect the whole family. At times, all the addicted can focus on is the next hit, fix, drink, or pill.

The Enabler

The key characteristic of the enabler is denial. Enablers want to protect the family and the addicted. The enabler wants to desperately maintain homeostasis and find use self-delusion to dismiss drugs or alcohol as the problem. The enabler makes excuses for the addicted and often tries to make light of a more serious issue. This role is often taken by the spouse or parent, although a child can also become an enabler.

The Hero

Often, the hero is a Type-A personality. They work hard, they are overachievers, and many times they suffer from perfectionism. Whether consciously or subconsciously, the hero attempts to create a sense of normal through their hard work and achievement. Any times the oldest child develops into the hero role. The hero may feel that with their hard work and success they can provide a sense of hope for the family. The hero can suffer greatly due to the pressure that they put on themselves. Heroes may develop high levels of anxiety as well as stress-related illness, not mention, the hero is also prone to substance use disorders.

The Scapegoat

The scapegoat takes the heat in the family system; they are the one to blame. The scapegoat finds themselves as the one to relieve the other family members anxiety and negative emotions. They have a target on them for everyone else to unload their angst upon. The give the family another person to blame other than the addicted. Many times the second child develops into this scapegoat role. Male scapegoats can age into violent and aggressive individuals, while female scapegoat may develop into run-aways and engage in promiscuous activity.

The Mascot

The mascot learns to cope with stress using humor and other tactics to deflect negative emotions. The mascot is the class clown of the family, and often the youngest child. This class clown is desperate for attention of any kind and craves approval. The mascot can be a vulnerable, sensitive, and fragile person. The mascot not only uses their antics and humor to deflect stress, they also use it as a coping strategy to manage and defend against their own fear and pain. Like the hero, the mascot also may be prone to developing a substance use disorder.

The Lost Child

Often times the middle or youngest child can develop into the lost child role. They can be characteristically, shy, withdrawn, and “invisible” within the family system. The lost child tends to be looked over and does not want or get a lot of attention from the other family members. They tend to isolate and develop issues in creating intimate relationships.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate information, we make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.