Addiction Treatment
Discover how family members can play a crucial role in the recovery process of a loved one struggling with addiction. Learn about the benefits of family therapy and how to provide emotional and social support to increase the likelihood of a successful recovery.
Getting Involved in A Loved One’s Addiction Treatment Helps Everyone
Submitted by Laura Calvert
Recovering from addiction is a long and difficult process. It’s one that is more likely to be successful if the recovering addict has plenty of support. Family members who get involved in this process... perhaps by initiating and attending family therapy sessions... find that they themselves benefit too.
Types of addictions in the elderly include addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, addiction to gambling, addiction to shopping, addiction to food or eating disorders.
The risk factors for developing addiction in the elderly are often similar to those in younger adults, such as mental health issues and a history of addiction. Other risk factors may include loneliness, physical health problems, medication misuse, and polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications).
Warning signs of addiction in the elderly are similar to addiction in adults of any age. These can include changes in behaviour, physical health problems, increased isolation or withdrawing from social activities, and financial difficulties.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism
Signs of Addiction in Seniors
Our Resources section can help you find the information and tools that you need. We have courses, videos, checklists, guidebooks, cheat sheets, how-to guides and more.
You can get started by clicking on the link below. We know that taking care of a loved one is hard work, but with our help you can get the support that you need.
Click here to go to Resources Section now!
How to Talk to Your Aging Parent about Their Addiction
Family Members Need To Heal Too
Addiction doesn’t only affect the addicted person. Close family members are often profoundly affected by the addiction. Which means they also need time and help to recover from the trauma that it causes.
Getting involved in the treatment process can help immensely. Especially when treatment includes family therapy sessions... in which all family members get the opportunity to talk... about how the addiction has affected them.
This is particularly important for two reasons:
Communication issues are often a significant problem in families affected by addiction.
And this particular problem... can be exacerbated by the treatment process if family members don’t get involved.
Another important issue is that many close family members, especially children of addicts... tend to feel that they are somewhat to blame for the addiction. They need help understanding that their sense of guilt is misplaced.
Family Involvement Increases the Likelihood of Successful Recovery
While it’s true that an addict is responsible for their own addiction and the behavior they engage in... During a period of active addiction... close family members who get involved in the recovery process... can be of enormous benefit in helping the addict succeed.
Family members who get involved in treatment learn how to provide essential emotional and social support... for the recovering addict. This not only helps them work towards recovery... it also helps them avoid situations or behavior that might lead to a relapse.
For more information, click here
Alcohol and Dementia
Comments ()