Being a pillar of strength, hope, and guidance for someone else is a very exhausting task, even for the most capable person. Support groups for families of addicts and alcoholics provide a much-needed safe space to cope with the ongoing strain they endure with this problem, not to lose themselves in the process.

An addicted person is changing and negatively affecting their own lives and those around them. Because of the ripple effect addiction has on loved ones, it is often called a ‘family disease.’ Having an environment in which the loved ones can go and express concerns is needed for the overall long-term recovery of everyone involved.

Support groups are a great way to move from feeling judged or condemned to understand as they navigate the struggles of having an addict in the family. Talking with people experiencing very similar life issues helps them not feel alone in their battle but educated, relieved, and empowered.

Addiction does not only affect the addict alone. For the family, staying physically and emotionally healthy can sometimes prove to be a challenge. The people closest to an addict deal with physical issues such as sleeping problems, ill health, anxiety, and emotional trauma. The family of an addict is vital to the recovery of someone with an addiction, yet they often feel run down in the process and have nothing left to give. At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we provide individuals who come to us seeking treatment and their friends and family with the necessary resources to learn how to achieve best and support recovery.

List of Support Groups for Families of Addicts & Alcoholics

There are many support groups for families dealing with addiction:

Nar-Anon is a twelve-step program for those affected by addictions of loved ones and friends. It is a complimentary program for Narcotics Anonymous, which was created for individuals that are addicted. This program was founded in California in 1968.
Al-Anon supported the loved ones of alcoholics and was founded in 1951. It was founded 16 years after the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is for those addicted to alcohol. Alateen is a similar group, but it is geared toward the adolescent age group.
In 1978, Adult Children of Alcoholics or ACA was founded, helping adults whose childhood was affected by their parent’s addiction. Adult Child is another term for when a person is confronted and returning to a former state in childhood. ACA is also structured as a twelve-step program and helps families with other dysfunctions as well. Pinpointing the toxic components of their youth, they follow the plan laid out for them that has been proven to work.
Families Anonymous was born in California in 1971 to people looking for help for their children but now includes all types of relationships. People who feel desperate by the concern they feel for their loved ones can reach out and find a loving atmosphere where they can have the anonymity open in a group atmosphere.
PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved-Ones) was created in 2006 and is a Christian-run non-profit. People of any faith are welcome to attend PAL meetings. The main goal is to get support for the family struggling to cope with their loved one’s addictive choices.
GRASP is an organization that realizes there is a need to support the ones that are left behind. There are so many tangled-up feelings when a loved one passes away from addiction: confusion, anger, blame, and more. Many will feel these emotions towards themselves, feeling like they did not help the person enough. There is also a stigma attached to these types of deaths that have to be addressed. This support group offers compassion and understanding in times of heartache.

List of Support Groups for Families of Addicts & Alcoholics florida

Learning More about Finding the Right Addiction Treatment Support

Because every meeting as a group is different and the atmosphere can change depending on who is present and what topics are discussed, attending a meeting more than once is a good idea. If, after some trial, a particular support group is not working out, another can always be tried. The most important thing is attending the meetings. Progress from the group will be pretty tricky if you are not present to participate and benefit from actually being there.

In these support groups, you can ask questions and share the issues you are dealing with and the progress and victories. Though it may not seem like it at first, all of those things are beneficial in an encouraging, supportive group where there is support with very little pressure.

Tools and resources are readily available for them to use and succeed in their lives, minds, and emotions. If someone can learn to deal with struggles within, dealing with others is much easier. With today’s technology, virtual meetings and phone support are also available, but in-person meetings are encouraged because of the many added benefits. It’s been shown that the more active a member is in support groups for family members of addicted loved ones, the quicker the progress. Like most things in life, a person will get out of it what they put into it.

Discover How Pines Recovery Life Detox Can Help

At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we understand that part of the healing process means laying the foundation for a lasting recovery. Perhaps the best way to do so is to build a supportive community once an individual completes detox and their addiction treatment program. While in treatment at Pines Recovery Life Detox, individuals will have the opportunity to work with others in group therapy sessions and participate in ongoing addiction support programs. Some of the programs we offer include:

Reach out to us today to learn more at 800.263.3869, or contact us online.

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