Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1

What is the likely reason for a family feeling angry after a member completes substance abuse treatment?

1. The family is appropriately anticipating relapse.

2. The family member is less enjoyable to be around when sober.

3. The family member continues to emotionally abuse others.

4. The family is experiencing discomfort around role changes.

The correct answer is: The family is experiencing discomfort around role changes.

A family may feel anger towards a member who has completed substance abuse treatment primarily due to the emotional turbulence and adjustments that follow such a significant change. When an individual goes through treatment and begins the journey of recovery, it often leads to shifts in family dynamics and roles. Family members might find themselves grappling with feelings of frustration, confusion, or discomfort as they adapt to the recovering individual's new behavior and the expectations that accompany sobriety. Additionally, roles that had been established when the person was using substances may become unsettled. Family dynamics often include enabling behaviors, conflict, and attempts to cope with the challenges of addiction, and recovery can trigger a reassessment of these roles. The anger may stem from a variety of underlying issues, such as resentment over past behaviors while the member was using or fear of the uncertainty that comes with recovery. This discomfort around role changes highlights the complexities involved in not only the recovering individual's journey but also the family's response to that journey, suggesting that their feelings of anger may be an expression of their struggle to navigate the new landscape of relationships and expectations within the family unit.