4.1 How concurrent disorders affect family life

A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders - Part II: The impact on families

Outline - Chapter 4: How concurrent disorders affect family life

• How concurrent disorders affect family life
• Behaviour changes
• Relationship changes
• Increased responsibility
• Impact on caregiver

When families learn that a relative has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, they often feel shocked and scared. Mental health disorders on their own can overwhelm families. Families who once had a safe and comfortable daily routine may find themselves on an emotional roller coaster.

There are many studies that document the stress families experience when they have a relative with a mental illness. However, few studies have looked at the added impact when that family member with mental illness also has substance abuse problems. One study by researchers in the United States showed what many of these families already know too well: that substance abuse contributes to family conflict and wears away social support (Kashner et al., 1991).

Family members’ lives often change dramatically after a family member develops concurrent disorders. Many of these changes create stress. This chapter discusses:

• behaviour changes in the person with concurrent disorders
• relationship changes between family members
• increased responsibility for caregiving
• the impact on the caregivers.

Before we discuss these experiences further, it’s important to recognize that some positive changes can and do happen. While family members must acknowledge and cope with the challenges they face, these challenges represent only one aspect of the caregiver experience. Many family members describe a renewed sense of closeness with their loved one and an appreciation for the truly important things in life, such as connecting emotionally with another human being, having hope, overcoming extreme hardships and experiencing the journey of recovery along with their loved one. Many family members find a positive way to think about difficult circumstances—for example, seeing caregiving in terms of hope and personal growth, as an experience that has positively transformed them.

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