26427 - Why Won’t My Loved One Seek Mental Health Treatment? - Understanding Recovery Avoidance - October 9

A substantial portion of individuals with mental illness do not get the help they need. Families struggle to understand why, especially when their loved one’s disorder negatively impacts their lives. They may wrongfully conclude the person is willfully choosing to be impaired, which can lead families to react in counterproductive ways. In this presentation, we will introduce a concept called recovery avoidance. The presenters will explain why the natural family response to recovery avoidance doesn’t work and often makes things worse, landing everyone involved into what they call the family trap. The presentation will describe how family members can enhance their emotional well-being, improve the quality of their interactions with the recovery avoider, and create an environment that promotes recovery.