
How Addiction Affects Families
Addiction devastates lives and families. If someone you care about is abusing drugs or alcohol, your life is affected at every level. Negative feelings and emotions often make normal daily life seem difficult. Other people don’t always understand, which can be isolating. People often tell us that they feel stressed, guilty, ashamed and hopeless. These are some of the things people who come to us have experienced:
- Feeling distressed because a loved-one is leading a chaotic life
- Experiencing threatening behaviour from someone they love
- Feeling out of control because of someone else’s behaviour
Families Out Loud offers the opportunity to talk which can be a lifeline for people going through trauma and distress. Our support can help you manage your situation and make positive changes in your life.
Our Services
Families Out Loud works with families who are affected by another person’s addiction. We understand what you are going through and how you feel because our own lives have been deeply affected in the same way. We offer one-to-one services to suit individual needs, counselling/therapeutic support for families, peer support group sessions and specialist teen support. These services are provided by our trained professionals.
Counselling/therapeutic support for family groups
Family sessions can promote openness, discussion and prevent misunderstandings within families. Emotional manipulation is common behaviour for drug and alcohol users and, while family members are responsible for their own actions, our professionals encourage open and constructive dialogue with a view to reaching a consensus on how the family collectively responds to a loved-one.
One-to-one Support
You will have an initial one-to-one meeting with a professional counsellor. During this meeting we will discuss your situation and concerns. We will explain our services and make suggestions about what might be an appropriate path for you which would be having one-to-one counselling, joining a support group or both. To support the charity in its work we ask for a donation from clients wishing to access one-to-one counselling.
Specialist Teen Support
Teen Support is a specialist service offered by our expert young person’s counsellor. Teenagers can struggle with their emotions when someone in the family is using drugs and alcohol. It is common for them to withdraw, to struggle at school, and to exhibit changes in behaviour and extremes of mood that are difficult to manage. Support from a specialist counsellor, who encourages expression of emotions which are then heard and accepted, can help the young person realise they aren’t responsible for the actions and outcomes of their loved-one’s behaviour.
Peer Support Groups
Joining a support group can be life changing. Talking to others who understand can be powerful and healing. We offer a safe environment where you can talk, listen, give or get advice. Some of the topics we cover are:
- Setting boundaries
- Being able to say “no”
- Giving back responsibility
- Detaching from chaotic behaviours
- Supporting without enabling
- Dealing with feelings of loss and hopelessness
- Keeping safe
- Looking after your own wellbeing
Get in touch to find out more about our in – person peer support groups held in:
- Chippenham
- Trowbridge
- Salisbury
To help with our running costs, we ask for a small donation of up to £5 per session. This is voluntary and those who are unable to contribute are still very welcome to attend.
List of Useful Contacts
Organisation
|
Phone number |
Website |
Adfam Helping families of addicts | 020 3817 9410 | www.adfam.org.uk |
Cruse Bereavement Supporting people when someone dies | 0808 808 1677 | www.cruse.org.uk |
Doorway Wiltshire Helping the homeless | 01249 445385 | www.doorwayproject.org.uk |
DrugFAM Helping families of addicts & bereavement counselling | 0300 888 3853 | www.drugfam.co.uk |
Families Out Loud Supporting families of addicts in Wiltshire | 07444 098427 | www.familiesoutloud.org |
FRANK Giving honest information about drugs | 0300 123 6600 | www.talktofrank.com |
Mind Supporting people with mental health | 0300 123 3393 | www.mind.org.uk |
Motiv8 Supporting and giving opportunities to vulnerable young people | www.motiv8.org.uk | |
National Domestic Abuse Helpline Helping people experiencing domestic abuse | 0808 2000 247 | www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk |
Off the Record Bath & North East Somerset Offering counselling for young people | 01225 312481 | www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk |
Relate – mid Wiltshire Offering relationship counselling, children & young people’s counselling & sex therapy | 0300 0031781 |
|
Samaritans Helpline for anyone in distress | 116 123 | www.samaritans.org |
Splitz Support Services Supporting people experiencing domestic violence |
01225 775276
|
|
Turning Point Supporting addicts and their families | www.turning-point.co.uk | |
Wiltshire IAPT Service Offering brief psychological therapies & other services | 01380 731335 | www.iapt-wilts.awp.nhs.uk |
Wiltshire Mind Supporting people with mental health | 01225 706532 | www.wiltshiremind.co.uk |
News & Updates
Families in Salisbury & Surrounding Areas
Families Out Loud services will soon be available at The Practice Rooms in Salisbury (link opens in new window). Please get in touch for more info: enquiries@familiesoutloud.org
Heartbreak & Hope
If you are struggling with a loved-one's substance abuse, read on to find out how our support can help you to change your life.Click here to read the latest update on our shared stories page.
Group Chats Work!
If you want to talk to others about living with someone else's drug and alcohol use, we run face-to-face support groups in Trowbridge, Salisbury & Chippenham. Get in touch to find out how you can join.
