Title: Helping Siblings of Struggling Children – Cathy Taughinbaugh

Having a sibling who is struggling with substance abuse can be challenging for the whole family, especially for the siblings. They may face situations where they have to cope with their family’s addiction problems. Here are some examples of how siblings can be affected:

Jason had two sisters and a brother, and he had been in and out of treatment programs. His brother and sister were angry and resentful towards the situation, while one of his sisters was supportive. However, Jason is now working on his recovery and restoring his relationships with his siblings.

Marc moved to a city to be closer to his brother, but he continued to relapse. Marc often wouldn’t answer his brother’s phone calls or texts. When his brother’s wedding day was near, Marc didn’t receive an invitation because his family was unsure if he could stay sober. Marc’s brother didn’t want his wedding overshadowed by addiction issues.

Siblings can face many difficult situations when their sibling is struggling with substance abuse. There may be anger, shame, frustration, and resentment. Some siblings may experience the painful loss of their brother or sister. They feel despair and have no control over the situation.

Siblings can also influence each other regarding substance use, which complicates the issue. They may also find themselves in a position of having to cover up for their sibling. They may need to tell their parents about what their sibling is doing because it seems dangerous. Then, they feel like they’ve lost their sibling’s trust.

Coping with substance abuse can be an extremely turbulent time, and siblings are often caught in the middle. They can feel overshadowed by their sibling’s addiction and may become resentful due to the lack of time and attention they receive from their parents. They may not have an outlet to express their hurt and feel forgotten victims.

Therefore, it’s essential to include siblings when seeking help for the family. They need help as much as anyone else in the family. The more everyone understands substance abuse disorder, the easier it is to be a strong and healthy family. Here are five ways to help siblings of struggling children:

Encourage open communication: Encourage your children to talk openly about their feelings and concerns. Make sure they know that it’s safe to express themselves without being judged.

Provide emotional support: Siblings need emotional support, too. They may feel isolated, alone, and forgotten. Show them that they matter and that you care.

Educate them about addiction: Siblings may not understand addiction and may need education about the disease. Explain how addiction affects the brain and behaviors.

Help them find support: Encourage siblings to join support groups for families affected by addiction. These groups can provide a safe and supportive environment for siblings to share their experiences.

Provide counseling: If your child is struggling with the effects of their sibling’s addiction, consider getting them counseling. A counselor can help them work through their emotions and find healthy ways to cope.

In conclusion, it’s essential to remember that siblings of struggling children need support, too. They may feel forgotten and need help coping with their emotions. Encourage open communication, provide emotional support, educate them about addiction, help them find support, and provide counseling if needed. By doing so, you can help your family become stronger and healthier.

Having a sibling with a substance use disorder can cause a range of emotions for other family members. Some common feelings that siblings may express include helplessness, confusion, fear, bitterness, shame, guilt, and stress. However, there are ways to help everyone involved cope with the situation.

Be clear with your child’s siblings

It may be tempting to hide the truth from your child’s siblings about what their sibling is going through. However, being clear and honest with them is often the kindest approach. Siblings need to have the problem addressed so that everyone is clear and can move forward in getting family support.

Manage the shame and stigma

Drug use can carry a lot of stigma, which can be a heartbreaking, cruel, and traumatic experience for any child. It is important to set clear boundaries for what is and is not acceptable behavior to ensure the safety and emotional well-being of all family members. Make sure that all family members understand that recovery is a long-term process and keep lines of communication open.

Get family support

Openly discussing the issue and addressing the stigma surrounding addiction is essential. Get your child the help they need to better cope with the fallout. Family support is critical. Alateen holds meetings for siblings in many major cities, and SMART Recovery also has meetings for family and friends. Family counseling can provide siblings with a chance to express their feelings.

Pay attention to all your children

Substance use can leave all family members overwhelmed. It is normal to be worried about your child and try to do everything you can to help them change. However, that can leave you little time to focus on your other children, leaving them feeling shortchanged and resentful. Carve out time to focus on your child with substance use issues during the day, then do your best to encourage and support your other children.

Practice self-care

If you’re not taking care of yourself, it will be impossible to help your struggling child and other children. Practice self-care so that you can be resilient during hard times. Acknowledge what your other children are doing well, spend quality time with them and your partner, and find other outlets to replenish yourself.

In conclusion, addiction affects everyone in the family. However, with conscious effort, siblings can feel like part of the solution, and their needs can also be met. The Compassion Antidote, a book written by the author, may answer many of the questions you have about your child’s situation.