The Power of Family Therapy

Addiction is often referred to as a family disease. Substance use disorder (SUD) and other types of mental health disorders can truly take a toll on the entire family unit. It’s important to educate family members about this disease so that they can work together to overcome the challenges. Family therapy can be powerful and have a positive impact in addressing these issues and moving forward.

If someone has not experienced addiction or a type of mental health disorder before, they may have a hard time relating to their family member’s struggle. However, family therapy can increase their understanding of the disease and their compassion for the other person. Family therapy can also be incredibly helpful in improving communication between the individual who may be struggling and their loved ones.

At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we recognize that having a strong support system plays a critical role in being able to enjoy long-lasting recovery. If possible, having close family members as a part of that support system can truly benefit someone beginning their recovery journey. It provides them with someone to lean on and hold them accountable as they navigate life moving forward.

How Family Therapy Can Help Provide Education About Addiction and Mental Health Disorders

Education is a critical tool in addressing both addiction and mental health disorders within families. While we, as an overall society, have come a long way in how we treat those with these types of disorders, there can unfortunately still be a negative stigma surrounding them. You might be wondering, what exactly is stigma? Negative stigma refers to social disapproval or discrimination towards individuals based on a certain characteristic about them, in many cases, a mental health disorder or addiction.

This kind of stigma usually stems from things like fear, misconceptions, or simply a lack of understanding about these kinds of conditions. Negative stigma is often based on characteristics that people have no control over, and it can be very damaging.

The Dangers of Stigma Surrounding Addiction and Mental Health Disorders

Negative stigmas surrounding those who may be struggling with addiction or mental health disorders can often be classified as unfair or untrue assumptions. For example, some people may mistakingly believe that someone going through this struggle is “unreliable,” “unsafe,” or even “weak.” They may believe that someone with an addiction or mental health disorder chose this and that they deserve what they’re going through. In reality, these beliefs are far from the truth.

Some people have what is called “internalized stigma” when it comes to those with addictions or mental health disorders. In other words, they may not vocalize their opinions, but they still hold false, negative internal perceptions. In some cases, people who are struggling with substance misuse or addiction may hold internalized stigma towards themselves. For example, they may believe that it is their fault that they’ve experienced this.

They may also believe that they are undeserving or incapable of experiencing freedom from their disorder. Some common feelings that they may be carrying with this stigma could include guilt, shame, and low self-worth. Negative stigma can prevent people from seeking help with their mental health or their substance misuse. This could be because they are worried about how they will be perceived and if they may be judged.

Negative stigma is dangerous and can lead to a person’s mental health or addiction becoming worse. It may lead to strained relationships with their friends or family members. However, the best tool to combat this type of stigma is through spreading awareness and education. Family therapy is a great way to accomplish this.

Understanding How Family Therapy Can Combat Stigma

Family therapy helps to combat stigma by helping family members understand that what their loved one is experiencing is a disease. It is something that is complex and involves many different biological, psychological, and social factors. Family therapy is a great way to work through and dismantle misconceptions or untrue beliefs that family members may hold about mental health or addiction. It also helps to humanize the experience of addiction and to allow family members to see the person behind the disease.

Family therapy can also help to combat the negative stigma surrounding addiction by encouraging loved ones to have a discussion. For many people, the topic of addiction can seem taboo, and they may avoid talking about it as much as possible. However, having an honest and open discussion about what their loved one is going through is the only way to promote a better understanding and healing. An open discussion can also help to reduce misplaced feelings of guilt and blame and help everyone understand that what is happening is no one’s fault.

Understanding the Effects of Addiction and Mental Health Disorders on the Family Unit

When one member of a family is struggling with addiction or a mental health disorder, it can affect all members of the family unit in different ways. Some people may be more comfortable expressing how they’re feeling, while others may keep their emotions to themselves. Until everyone is on the same page with understanding how one another is feeling, it can be challenging for healing within the family to take place. This is one of the key things that family therapy can help establish.

The Effects of Mental Health Disorders or Addiction Upon Different Family Members

Because the relationships between family members are different, one member’s struggle with addiction or mental health can affect people in very different ways. For example, a partner or spouse is more likely to experience feelings of betrayal, anger, and even loneliness. This could be due to having to pick up the slack for the other person if they are struggling to keep up with their responsibilities. It could also be because trust has been broken due to their partner’s addiction or mental health disorder.

A child of someone who is struggling with a disorder like this is probably going to experience a different set of emotions. Depending upon their age and their understanding of what’s going on, they may experience feelings of neglect or confusion. They may not understand why their parent is not able to be there for them in the way they were in the past. In some cases, a child may even blame themselves for their parent’s addiction or mental health struggle.

Finally, a parent of someone going through this experience may feel their own complex series of emotions. They may struggle with wanting to help their child but not knowing how. This can lead them to experience feelings of guilt, worry, and helplessness. If their child is an adult, they may recognize that there is only so much they can do until their child decides to seek treatment on their own. However, at the same time, they may struggle to let go when it comes to their child’s struggle. They may try to overcompensate or make excuses for their child’s behavior.

How Family Dynamics Can Change As a Result of Mental Illness of Addiction

Just as one person’s struggle with addiction or mental illness can affect family members in different ways, it can also affect different family dynamics.

Codependency

In many cases, a dynamic that occurs as a result of an untreated disorder is codependency. Some family members may feel so desperate to help their loved one that they fall into the habit of enabling behaviors. An enabling behavior is anything that makes it easier for that individual to avoid getting the professional help they need.

For example, consider the case of alcohol addiction. An enabling behavior would be something that allows the individual to keep drinking without facing repercussions. In many cases, family members don’t realize that they are participating in enabling behavior. They may only think that they’re trying to help.

Some enabling behaviors might include:

• Making excuses for the individual’s behavior
• Purchasing alcohol or other substances for them
• Helping them out financially
• Picking up the slack for them either with personal or professional obligations for them
• Cleaning up their messes for them (literally or figuratively)
• Helping them hide their problem instead of getting help
• Telling them that they don’t have a problem
• Helping them out if they experience legal problems

Enabling behaviors are often displayed by well-meaning family members who don’t realize the damage of what they are doing. However, ultimately, these behaviors can prevent a person from getting the professional help they truly need. Family therapy can help family members to learn to recognize these behaviors and make necessary changes.

Shifts in Family Roles and Responsibilities

Another family dynamic that can be affected by untreated mental health disorders or addiction is family responsibilities. When someone is struggling with this type of disorder, they may struggle to fulfill the role they once had within their family. For example, a parent may struggle to be the caregiver and provider that their children need them to be. This can take a major toll on the family dynamic as a whole.

In many cases, the children may take on more of a caregiver role for their parents. This could include preparing meals, cleaning up around the house, or doing more than what is typically expected of a child. It may also include helping to care for younger children if the parent is not in the right state of mind to do so.

Many children may do these things without complaining because they feel they have no other choice. However, the mental and emotional stress they may be experiencing can be detrimental. Their parent might not understand the toll that these responsibilities are taking on their child. This is something that can be explored and addressed through family therapy.

The Positive Impact of Family Therapy on Families Affected By Mental Health Disorders or Addiction

There is no shortage of benefits associated with family therapy. Especially for those families who have been affected by mental health or addiction, family therapy can be a great step towards healing. By addressing issues collectively as a family, it will be easier to see what steps need to be taken to move forward. Most importantly, family members can get a better understanding of one another.

Healing from Past Conflicts

Many families like to try to ignore past conflicts or act as if they never happened. They may think that if they don’t address them, they will just go away. However, ignoring conflicts doesn’t help to get rid of anger, resentment, or other emotions that might still be there.  Until these conflicts are addressed, it will be hard for healing to take place.

Family therapy provides a safe space for everything to be put on the table. Everyone gets a chance to express themselves and how things from the past made them feel. Having this open dialogue can help family members get a better understanding of where one another is coming from. It can also help those who may be in recovery to recognize how their past behavior affected those closest to them.

With a better understanding of one another comes a greater sense of compassion. This can lead to the start of forgiveness and the ability to rebuild trust. In time, family therapy can help resolve deep-rooted issues. Most importantly, it can help to restore relationships that may have been strained or even broken.

Establishing Healthy Boundaries

Once a person has decided to seek treatment for a mental health disorder or addiction, it doesn’t mean that everything will automatically go back to normal. It may take time for their loved ones to process their emotions and feel comfortable letting them back in. Through family therapy, therapists can help family members set healthy boundaries. These boundaries are intended to protect them from experiencing any more emotional harm due to their loved one’s behavior.

Healthy boundaries look different for different people. For some people, a boundary may include no longer participating in enabling behaviors. In other cases, it may involve not being around the other person unless they seek professional treatment.

Developing Effective Coping Mechanisms

Having a family member struggle with untreated addiction or mental health disorders can lead to significant stress and anxiety. Family members may forget to take proper care of themselves during this time. Through family therapy, they can learn effective ways to cope with their stress. They may also learn about the importance of practicing self-care and not being afraid to take time away from their loved ones if necessary.

Encouraging Accountability

Family therapy can also help to ensure that all family members are on the same page about supporting their loved one’s recovery. This can help encourage accountability for both the loved one in recovery and themselves.

Identifying When It’s Time to Seek Family Therapy

Some family members may be wondering, how do I know it is time to seek family therapy? Maybe they suspect that their loved one has a problem but don’t know the right way to help them. Perhaps they have tried to encourage their family member to get help, but they have been unwilling to do so. While some families may want to try to resolve these problems on their own, external help may be beneficial.

There may be some key indicators that it is time to seek a professional family therapist. Some examples include:

• Repeated, unresolved conflicts within the home
• Increased stress and anxiety among family members
• Family members who are sacrificing their own needs while attempting to care for the one struggling
• Repeated enabling behaviors by family members
• Broken trust due to addiction or mental health disorders
• Family members picking sides or becoming resentful of one another
• Emotional distance or disconnection between family members

At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we recognize that going through this can be difficult for a family. However, we are here to guide you along the way.

Many people still consider the topic of addiction or mental health disorders as taboo. They may avoid talking about it aloud or even deny that a loved one of theirs may have a problem. However, ignoring the issue does not make it go away. In fact, it can just cause the individual to put off seeking the help they need for even longer. Confronting a loved one with an untreated disorder like this can be very intimidating. You may question how it could affect your relationship with this person in the long run. However, it could also save the person’s life. Call Profound Treatment at (310) 340-2609 to learn more about recovery.