|
|
Family Programs
Family Education Week & More
Twenty years of addiction research has determined that successful
treatment of an addicted person ideally includes the education of
family members. Just as the disease of addiction causes dysfunctional
behaviors in the addict, so too does it have psychological emotional
and spiritual effects on family members. At first the family commonly
denies the reality of the disease. Then family members unintentionally
enable the progression of the illness. Finally, the family might fall
into an attitude of hopelessness of ever effecting any positive change
in the addicted person.
Family members sometimes exhibit somatic disorders in relation to a
loved one’s addiction. These might include heightened anxiety, stress,
and depression. Historically, treatment focused only on the addicted
person. However, addiction researchers Weg Scheider, Black, et al.,
have conclusively demonstrated that untreated family members continue
to suffer the effects of living with the disease. Further, family
members who are educated and work a recovery program provide a highly
encouraging atmosphere for recovering alcoholics and addicts.
Family Education Week
LMRC conducts five-day educational sessions for families of alcoholics
and addicts. Participating family members undergo a thorough regimen of education
and group work. They learn about addiction dynamics, primary social
stressors, and maladaptive reactions. They are given nutritional
guidance and education about support group fundamentals as well.
Group sharing allows family members to ventilate long-suppressed
feelings, and to share these feelings with people who understand who
"have been there". Skilled counselors use a variety of techniques to
teach family member’s healthy communication patterns and behaviors.
These newly acquired skills nurture a sense of competence in family
members who may have lost all hope for change.
Goals of the Family Education Week are to educate family members about
the disease, to reduce feelings of uniqueness and isolation, and to
furnish family members with a recovery plan that will work. Admission
is based on whether or not the person has lived with and/or loved an
alcoholic or addict. It is not required they have a patient in
treatment.
Contact us now at Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers for FREE Drug & Alcohol evaluations...
Call (800)231-4303 or email us confidentially
|
|
