Addiction is a complex disease that affects every part of your life. It changes your behaviors, priorities, thought processes, and decision-making capabilities. The desperate and risky behaviors you act out on usually don’t come from a place of malice. While addicted, you aren’t intentionally trying to hurt your family. You are probably just trying to continue using drugs or alcohol through any means possible. However, addiction affects the lives of everyone close to the addict, and at some point, your family will get sick and tired of your dishonesty.
One of the biggest ways addiction affects families comes down to trust. Your family members may not trust you to tell the truth, be gentle with their emotions, or follow through on your promises. This broken trust can damage the relationships you have with your loved ones.
Fortunately, at our addiction treatment center in Massachusetts, we do more than just treat the symptoms of your addiction. We help you change your behaviors, get your family involved in your recovery, and help you rebuild trust with your family after addiction.
How Addiction Disrupts Trust Within The Family Unit
There are many reasons why people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol lie. In most cases, the reason for dishonesty comes down to the urge to obtain drugs/alcohol, use drugs/alcohol, or recover from one’s substance abuse without family interference. Examples of types of lies you may tell while struggling with addiction include:
- Who you are spending time with or where you are spending your time
- Your finances, work, or relationships
- The extent of your drug or alcohol use
- Willingness to seek treatment
- The ability to control your substance abuse
You may also find yourself breaking promises. For example, you may promise your sibling that you’ll be there to support them during a show or sporting event, but when the time comes, you are nowhere to be found because you are using drugs or drinking. Or, perhaps you’ve been to rehab before and have made promises regarding your sobriety only to relapse and let down your family once again. Maybe you’ve even stolen money or personal belongings from a family member.
Lies, dishonesty, and unreliability can disrupt the trust within your family unit. Even if you get treatment and stay sober for a while, your family may still have a hard time trusting you.
Three Ways an Addiction Treatment Center Can Help Restore Trust Within Your Family
One of the most important parts of recovery is rebuilding meaningful relationships. If you have lost the trust of your family as a result of your addiction, there are several ways an addiction treatment center can help. Three of the most popular and effective ways include:
1. Changing Your Addictive Behaviors
If you don’t make changes yourself or at least demonstrate a willingness to change, your family will have no reason to trust you. Before you start focusing on restoring trust with your family, you should focus on healing yourself. Drug and alcohol rehab centers facilitate group and individual therapy sessions to help you identify negative behaviors, adopt healthy coping skills, and change your thought processes so you stay sober and behave differently.
When you get rid of drug-seeking behaviors and begin dedicating your life to changing yourself for the better, your family will be more willing to participate in your recovery and begin building trust.
2. Family Counseling Sessions
Once you’ve begun working on yourself and making personal changes, it may be time to get your family involved in treatment. Many substance abuse treatment centers offer family counseling sessions where you can work with your family members and a therapist on your relationship. Therapy allows you and your family to express emotions and concerns in a safe, mediated environment. Therapists can help you and your family work through complex issues that are affecting your relationship.
Family therapy is a great way to begin rebuilding trust with your family after addiction. Your therapist can also help your family come up with a plan of action or “goals” that will help restore trust within the family unit.
Get The Care You Need and Deserve
Woburn Addiction Treatment is a leader in the addiction treatment field, with proven success in facilitating long-term recovery. Our team of top clinical & medical experts specializes in treating addiction coupled with mental illness, ensuring that each person receives individualized care. Call us – we’re available 24/day, 7 days/week.
3. Family Support Groups
The last way an addiction treatment center can help you build trust with your family during rehab is through family support groups. Many treatment programs host family support sessions where families can learn about the disease of addiction, connect with other families who are affected by addiction, and learn how to support their addicted loved ones.
By getting a better understanding of the disease of addiction, your family will feel as though they understand you better. This paves the way for a future relationship that is built on a foundation of trust.
Find a Family-Focused Addiction Treatment Program Today
Our team at Woburn Addiction Treatment recognizes the importance of family involvement in recovery. We are dedicated to helping both you and your loved ones heal from the effects of addiction. Don’t wait any longer to get the help you deserve. Call now to find out if our drug and alcohol rehab programs in Massachusetts are right for you.
