Support for Families of Alcoholics

Support Services and Resources for the Families of Addicted Loved Ones

Alcohol addiction doesn’t just impact the individual with this form of substance use disorder. Unfortunately, alcohol abuse spiderwebs outward, impacting every member of the family with emotional, financial, and psychological consequences. If you are looking for support for families of alcoholics, Icarus is here to help.

Spouses, children, parents, and siblings who live with someone dealing with alcohol use disorder are tasked with the monumental job of attempting to navigate the storm of addiction. In the United States, nearly 30 million people live with a family member who struggles with alcohol addiction. The primary focus typically lies on the individual working with the substance use disorder.

However, the families affected deserve to participate in the recovery process just as much as the individual with the alcohol use disorder. This article explores the support options available to family members of people with alcohol use disorder, including therapy and support groups that present effective coping strategies and community resources.

Whether you’re dealing with a loved one who refuses assistance or walking with someone toward recovery, Icarus Behavioral Health has a mutual support program for everybody.

The Emotional and Psychological Impact of Alcohol Use On the Entire Family

Living with someone with a substance use disorder involving alcohol often brings chaos into the picture. Raising children becomes more complicated, and loved ones cycle through a storm of emotions, including shame, guilt, denial, and exhaustion. Eventually, these emotions develop into chronic stress, depression, and unhealthy resentment.

Family systems adapt to dysfunction, often leading to predictable roles. An enabler attempts to keep the peace by pacifying the person with an addiction, the scapegoat acts out, the hero overachieves and masks family pain, and the mascot uses humor to deflect the weight of stress. Family members’ roles offer a temporary balance but usually fail at long-term healing and recovery.

Children often grow up confused about boundaries regarding family members and have difficulties with emotional regulation and trust issues. Other family members, like spouses or partners, feel isolated or trapped, unsure where to turn for help, or simply run away. Recognizing these patterns through family support groups is the first step in fostering real change.

Understanding Alcohol Related Behavioral Problems

An alcoholic family member suffers from a chronic, repetitive brain disease. This is not a moral shortcoming. Making this distinction is critical to understanding and assembling an efficient support organization.

Family members seem to blame themselves internally, with the misguided hope that love can fix someone else’s drinking. Unfortunately, substance use disorder goes much deeper, impacting brain chemistry and taking over the reward systems and decision-making abilities.

Having a firm understanding of addiction as a disease allows someone to reframe their role within a loved one’s addiction. There’s no reason to act as a savior or punisher, but simply a support pillar with healthy limitations.

Compassion is essential for greater understanding and emotional well-being. Clarity also comes into play, and just because you empathize with an alcoholic’s family disease issue doesn’t mean you’re an enabler.

Available Support Services to Help Users Stop Drinking

There are many locations in the New Mexico area. Let’s cover a blanket list of potential resources available for those suffering from substance use disorder and their loved ones:

Support Groups

• Al-Anon Meetings for families offer support for users and other members of the family impacted by someone else’s substance use and drinking. The Al-Anon program is free to attend, anonymous, and widely available in most cities.
• Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, but is tailored toward young people raised in households damaged by substance use, allowing participants to cope with childhood trauma.
• Families Anonymous allows all family members of an alcoholic to attend meetings who struggle with any type of addiction, including alcohol.

These groups provide a haven for sharing stories, exchanging coping strategies, and offering family support. For many, simply knowing you’re not alone can foster positive change.

Professional Help or a Rehabilitation Program

Does your insurance coverage offer you the option to seek professional substance use therapy? The answer is most likely yes. Licensed therapists specializing in substance use disorder and family dynamics can help you navigate through the difficulties of proper communication, avoiding overstepping boundaries, and emotional recovery. Many treatment options offer family programs included in inpatient or outpatient therapy.

Therapy for a loved one or friend can help highlight hidden elements and provide tools to establish trust, especially once recovery is in full swing.

Educational Resources

Literature aimed at dealing with a loved one’s drinking that shares the author’s personal experiences can offer reflective insight into the role family plays in a loved one’s drinking. In addition, online courses, webinars, and other telehealth meetings hosted by recovery organizations teach essential skills like understanding relapse and practicing self-care.

Community and Faith-Based Support

Faith-based communities often act as robust support systems. Churches and other religious houses of worship offer alcoholism resources, including spiritual guidance, housing placement, and other forms of support. For many, spirituality provides a framework for navigating addiction.

Nonprofits like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or Partnership to End Addiction offer helpline information, referral resources, and local organization directories.

Online forums like the sub-Reddit r/AlAnon and SoberRecovery provide judgment-free groups that provide around-the-clock guidance. This is vital for those who cannot access live meetings.

Practical Coping Strategies for Friends and Family

The following list outlines healthy coping strategies for friends and family of those who suffer from alcohol abuse.

Set Healthy Boundaries

Define the behaviors you’re willing to accept in contrast to the ones you are not while refraining from threats and ultimatums. For example: “I won’t offer you money if you’re engaging in drinking” or “Don’t bring alcohol into my home.”

Detach with Love

This element encourages distancing yourself from the addiction, but not the person. It allows natural consequences to play out without stepping in to save or cover up for the alcohol user.

Remembering Self-Care

Perpetual caregiving can easily lead to burnout. To combat this, invest in therapy for yourself, take up a hobby, forge new friendships, and be mindful of your physical health.

Communication Tools

Avoid blame and sarcasm. Instead, use “I” statements, such as “I feel overwhelmed when I see you drinking.” This expresses needs without forcing a defensive response.

Safety Planning

If a loved one becomes violent, unpredictable, or abusive or shows signs of other safety concerns, it helps to have a plan first. Know your emergency resources: shelters, domestic hotlines, and legal aid.

The Role of Family in Alcoholism Recovery

Family members usually ask if they should be involved in the recovery process. The answer is a resounding yes. However, be mindful of the healthy boundaries mentioned earlier. Families can participate in therapy sessions, join education programs, and support loved ones during treatment.

Don’t get support confused with control. Real support involves accountability, not a rescue mission. Celebrate progress, encourage therapy, and even leave room for mistakes. However, manage these dynamics without sacrificing your well-being.

When Family Members Suffering from Alcoholism Refuse Help

One of the most challenging issues is watching someone you care about spiral out of control while rejecting helpful resources. During these moments, you can often feel powerless. However, your path to healing doesn’t depend on their willingness to participate in treatment.

Take the lead by:

• Joining a support group for yourself
• Speaking to a counselor
• Learn about proper intervention
• Explore legal avenues like court-ordered rehab

When children are involved or there’s a risk of violence, seek legal custody or protection orders if necessary. Consult your family attorney or CPS advocate to clarify your next steps.

Reclaiming Hope and Forging a New Path

It’s too easy to become overwhelmed, discouraged, and even resentful in the face of addiction. Remember, recovery is hardly a solo journey and is not just for the individual who drinks. Families must manifest healing, growth, and peace simultaneously.

With the right support system, many families emerge from the darkness of addiction more resilient, connected, and self-aware than before. Recovery isn’t about erasing the pain; it’s about learning how to love in healthier ways together or apart.

Icarus Behavioral Health Helps Those Struggling with Alcohol

Supporting a loved one with alcoholism is a challenging experience. However, you don’t have to walk the road alone. From support groups and therapy to faith communities and online forums, help is everywhere you look.

You deserve support, healing, and peace. Whether your loved one chooses recovery or not, your life has value and potential beyond their addiction. Remember, it’s not selfish to care about yourself; it’s only sensible. In reality, it’s essential.

Icarus Behavioral Health in New Mexico can not only help your loved one with their alcohol addiction, deploying a combination of evidence-based and holistic healing programs. Still, it can also help you reach a healthy point in your life.

We encourage family members to get involved with the process through family support groups and meetings with counselors. If you have a loved one struggling with alcohol addiction and you require care and desire to help as a vital pillar of support, contact our admissions team today, and we’ll help you start the journey to healing.