Family Treatment

Family Treatment is an integral part of the treatment process. You may wonder, but why do I need help, it’s not me; it’s my loved one that is causing all of the turmoil. The reality is that many times because the family has been so involved and immersed in the loved one’s addiction, mental illness, or eating disorder, that they too become sick. It’s really important to understand that it is not your fault and even though you want to fix the problem, it requires professional treatment teams to help get your loved one back on track. When you are involved in the condition for so long, it is common to become codependent.

What is Codependency

Codependency is the act of enabling the behavior by unhealthy actions. Enabling behavior includes providing housing, food, and money to your loved one even though their actions are not healthy. It also includes denial and making excuses for the person. There is a common statement that people make, “I love you to death”. This statement is the sad truth that many times can become a reality if the family does not also receive help to retrain on healthy behaviors and boundaries. Often unhealthy behaviors can be a family cycle, meaning that it is passed down from generation to generation. That is why it is so important to acknowledge that all family members that are exposed to the loved one suffering from an addiction, mental illness, or eating disorder also need to learn healthy ways to live as well.

Symptoms of Codependency

There is no denying that when your loved one is suffering, so are you. It can cause a major disruption in our lives and also affect young children as well. The adults tend to experience symptoms of emotional distress that include depression, anxiety, and insomnia. If you have been experiencing these feelings, it is time to reach out for help. You can be a strong example to your loved one by getting help and improving your well-being.

Treatment & Recovery for Family

There are a number of different options that can be used as a resource for family treatment. There are many treatment programs that also offer family programs or therapy where you can also receive treatment while your loved one does, or, do it on your own. You can also seek help from a private therapist in your home area, and you can meet with them as needed to work through distress. In addition, there are free support groups that are highly recommended for family members called Al-Anon meetings. Al-Anon is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous but for Family. The family meetings specifically for Mental Health are called NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) meetings.