Role of the family members in addiction recovery

Substance addiction has the capacity to affect the peace and love in the family. When a family member is addicted, the rest of the family go through bouts of painful moments. Addicts and their family members do not see eye-to-eye because their brains are not wired the same way again.

It is always frustrating for the family members because their addicted loved one is slipping away in ignorance. However, the family can help their addicted member defeat addiction and achieve sobriety. The role the family plays is very quintessential and should not be understated.

First off, any of the family members can play the role of the savior. What this role requires is ensuring the image of the family is maintained at all cost. No matter the shame the addict has brought to the family, the savior makes sure that the family covers for the individual. The savior also tries to fill the empty void created in the family.

Also, another role that any family member can play is the Mascot. The Mascot gives comic comfort to the family because of the current stress they are facing.

A good number of times, this comic comfort is targeted at the individual as a means to reduce the pain and discomfort they are feeling. This is an indirect coping skill for the addict to imbibe.

Next is the Lost Child role. These are people who find it difficult to control their emotions. So, what they do is avoid any form of conflict that would disrupt the peace in the family. They suffer deeply by suppressing their emotions, but it is usually for the best.

Furthermore, someone has to play the role of the scapegoat in the family. This role requires creating other issues that distracts the family from the addiction issue. So, they would not focus on the real issue for a while.

Lastly, there is the rescuer. The role of the rescuer is to give excuses for the behavior caused by the addict.