- Many family members struggle to accept that their relative has both substance use and mental health problems. Some families may accept the mental health diagnosis, but not the substance use problem. They may think the substance use is a sign of “bad” behavior. Other families may accept the substance use, but find it hard to accept that their relative has a mental health problem, or vice versa. Some families struggle to understand that concurrent disorders are a relapsing condition, and not an illness with a cure.
- Families often avoid talking to their relative about relapses or crises. They fear that talking about a crisis may bring one on, or will upset their relative. Also, everyone hopes that the last crisis was something that only happened once, and will not happen again.
- However, the best way to handle a crisis, or possibly avoid one, is to know what to do before it happens. While you focus on wellness, you should also plan for a crisis or relapse. This can help both the ill person and the family to feel more secure.
- Pasadena Villa firmly believes in engaging the immediate family as part of the individual’s relapse prevention plan.
