For the addicted abusers non-possessing an appropriate family background the group can replace the background function (decrease the stress, „ventilation”, it provides a safe ground to test the more adaptive behaviour patterns and to accept critics).
The group can treat the contact problems typical of the drug users such as supporting and encouraging to get in touch, controlling extreme emotions, supporting the acceptance of ambivalent feelings, management the feeling of being refused.
An effective information flow can be realised among the members: in the social sphere such as accommodation, employment etc. emerging and management of probable emotions in special situations.
Being a self-assisting group our concrete topics are not divided to strictly defined activities. Regarding the problems emerging, we deal with the following issues:
Locality of the group: 4, Gyöngyike St. Budapest, Hungary - 1101.
Date: every second Monday 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Info-line: (+36 1) 431-9797 or (+36 1) 261-8457
For the relatives of drug abusers it is very hard to speak about their problems in their near surrounding, the society can hardly tolerate this problem. While „to drink is a manly thing”, to be an alcoholic is a shame. Drug abusers are separated because of the fear. The relatives conceal with reason both the problem and the treatment. In the meantime, they get completely isolated and, in many cases, they do not speak about the troubles in the family either.
The relatives mostly suppress their negative emotions, anger, sense of guilt. They are extremely tossed about accusation and self accusation so hindering both solving their own problems and the progress of our clients. They are afraid of expressing their helplessness, hopelessness and fears thus they cannot work them up either. By expressing and analysing the natural appearance of these emotions, we help the relatives in identifying and treating them assertively.
Due to the games of drug-addicted patients, the family members and relatives follow the same rules in solving problems, they are not able to change, nor to form a more effective and constructive life-style. By game-analysis wrenching them from their usual activities and responses they can realize new alternative solutions which can lead to changes in the family, too.
During the therapy, the drug abusers use their relatives in a special way, trying to win them to serve as a shield against any change. The relatives are powerless against the problem because they do not want to betray their family member but are also unwilling to turn against the helpers. Our intention is not concluding a coalition against the patient which would reinforce his resistance but working in the same system and forming a common view. This is very useful in the future after the therapy as well, it helps the clients in their re-integration into the family and in preventing their relapse.
The families of alcoholics and drug abusers are characterized by blurring of ego limits, lack of concretely circumscribed responsibility and the inadequate control. During the therapy, the clients have to take responsibility for their progress, decisions and acts on more and more extensive areas. We consider it very important that this responsibility should stay in their hands while the family supports and helps their trials and decision making. The relatives have ambivalent feelings on one hand because of their fears and uncertainty, on the other hand they feel relief that the responsibility of their inability is not their fault. Of course, we do not encourage them to let our patients alone with their problems and difficulties.
For drug abusers' adult relatives group activities are organized every month, the venue and point of time are available on the phone number (+36 1) 431-9797.