
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 to support adults 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 an initial one-to-one assessment, one-to-one counselling and regular support group sessions. These services are provided for us by trained professionals.
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.
Our 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
We meet in Chippenham and Trowbridge on the following days and times:
- Chippenham on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm
- Trowbridge on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 pm
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
Become a FOL Volunteer
Can you spare a few hours of your time each week or month? Do you want to help a worthy cause? If so, FOL is looking for people to join our Sharing by Doing team. Have a look at our Guide to Volunteering with FOL and get in touch today....
The Power of Support Groups
Article published in issue 7 of Celebrate, available now in Trowbridge Town Hall.
Families Out Loud Volunteer opportunity for someone who’s working in, or wants to get into Digital Marketing
Families Out Loud Volunteer opportunity for someone who's working in, or wants to get into Digital Marketing.
