Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centres in Colchester

How Rehab in Colchester Can Help Families

The focus of rehab providers is to help the individual to recover from his or her addiction. Nonetheless, because this is an illness that also affects every other member of the family, most clinics will offer some kind of family therapy and support.

With addiction, the family unit can be torn apart, and almost every single member will feel the effects. Parents, siblings, spouses and particularly children will all be negatively affected when one member develops a drug or alcohol addiction.

It is often the case that family members realise there is a problem long before the person with the addiction does. They will notice the subtle changes that occur in the behaviour of the affected person. Family members tend to react in different ways; some will become desperate to help the addicted loved one, many even blaming themselves. Others will be hurt and upset while some may feel angry and resentful.

It may even be the case that some members of the family develop what is known as co-dependency, where their own lives begin to revolve around the addicted individual and their illness. Some will try to change their behaviour to accommodate the actions of the addict to the point where this begins to have disastrous consequences.

It is important that all members of the family are treated at the same time as the recovering addict. Dealing with underlying issues will help all members to rebuild their relationships, and if therapy is offered as part of a rehab programme, it is a very good idea to get involved.

Family Therapy during Alcohol or Drug Rehab in Colchester

Some rehab clinics offer separate counselling to family members away from their addicted loved one. It is typical for family members to be invited to attend counselling or therapy sessions with some of the therapists who are also treating their loved one. There may also be times when the recovering addict will join other members of the family for counselling.

Other clinics believe that family therapy sessions should always include the recovering addict. Families are invited to attend group sessions with their loved one on specific days of the week. This type of therapy can be included in both an inpatient or outpatient programme.

Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Colchester: Caring for You

At Recovery.org.uk, we help individuals with addiction issues to access the treatments they need to recover. We also help their family members by providing advice and information regarding treatments for their loved ones.

One question we are often asked is whether family therapy is a necessary part of rehab. They want to know if they should take advantage of this type of treatment if it is offered, and we always give them a resounding yes.

Family members are affected in various ways by one member’s addiction, and there are many reasons why therapy will help them to overcome the illness. Spouses often feel as though they have failed their partner while many will begin to change their own behaviour in the hope that this will make the addict stop abusing a particular substance. They may also have to deal with verbal and physical abuse. This tends to lead to a breakdown in relationships; often, the only way to rectify this situation is with professional counselling.

Children are also profoundly affected by parental addiction. They are sometimes referred to as the forgotten victims because adults tend to overlook them. It is not uncommon for kids to be left to wonder what they have done to cause their addicted parent to act this way. Many are too young to understand the illness, and some are faced with anger, verbal and even physical abuse from the addicted parent. Without professional counselling, these children may go on to have profound and lasting psychological and emotional issues. Many will go on to develop an addiction themselves.

With extended family members, the issues will be different because they are not living with the addicted individual on a daily basis. Nevertheless, this can be even more damaging because many, particularly parents, will become enablers. They will believe that they are helping the addicted loved one when they are in fact making it easier for him or her to continue with the addictive behaviour. This could include giving them money or making excuses for them. Family therapy helps them to learn how to deal with their addicted loved one in a positive manner and how to stop enabling them.

For more information on family therapy or rehab in Colchester, contact Recovery.org.uk today.