When people become addicted, their families are not the only one who first feels the brunt of this disease–they are also the ones who are impacted most by it. Oftentimes, family members feel helpless and desperate. Somewhere along the way of trying everything to make the addict stop their habit, its the family members who lose themselves.
At Bridges of Hope, we work with families whose loved ones are in the vice grip of addiction. As Rehabilitation Specialists, we are faced with wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, children, and other family members who are hurting, angry, disappointed, and needing answers to questions like, “Where did we go wrong?” “What could I have done to prevent this?” “Should I have done this or that?” “How can we make him/her change?” These family members’ lives have also undergone a downward spiral along with the addicts’. Family members need help too, and they also need to undergo transformation and recovery.
We always tell family members to “detach with love” something that is admittedly hard to do but is necessary in a relationship where there is addiction. It is important for family members to see things from an objective perspective to make even more sense out of what is happening.
Below are the Three C’s of Family Recovery–tools that family members can use to empower them as their loved ones undergo recovery and they too, embark on their own transformation:
- “I didn’t CAUSE it.” We admitted we were powerless over [addiction] – that our lives had become unmanageable. Family members need to realize that they are powerless over the addict, as much as the addict is powerless over his/her addiction. There is nothing you, as a family member, could have said or done to cause the addiction.
- “I can’t CONTROL it.” Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. You are powerless over other people’s actions and decisions. The only thing you can control is yourself and how you can cope with every situation that lands on your lap.
- “I can’t CURE it.” Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. It is important to understand that addiction is incurable. You cannot be a hero and try to save the addict because in the end of the day, the only one we can save is ourselves.
If you or your loved one is seeking help for addiction or alcoholism, give us a call or text. Our Rehab Specialists will be with you to answer all your questions or provide you support. Call or text us now:
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