How Drug Addiction Affects Relationships
Addiction and Relationships
You may have heard it being said that addiction is a family illness, one that impacts not only the individual drug addict or alcoholic but everyone else in their lives as well. If you have been trying to help an addicted friend or family member, you know only too well how true this statement is.
Addiction has the potential to shatter relationships, destroy marriages and erode trust between parents and children. Over time, even small problems can add up quickly, and once those issues have progressed they can be very difficult to turn around. If you have an addict in your family, it is important to get the help you need right away, and that begins with a single phone call to Resurgence.
Enabling Relationships
Dealing with a friend or family member who is struggling with alcoholism or addiction is a huge challenge, and it is important to recognize the impact these issues will have on your ongoing relationship. You care about the addict or alcoholic, but at the same time you do not want to do things that will make the problem worse and allow the individual to put off going into rehab. Here are some of the challenges loved ones face when dealing with an addicted family member.
- Codependency – It is easy to develop a codependent relationship with the addict, feeding into their issues and making an already bad situation worse
- Supporting without enabling – The line between supporting and enabling is not always crystal clear, and it is easy for those lines to become blurry. Learning how to support an addicted loved one without enabling their behavior is a critical skill for family members to master
- Losing and recovering trust – The loss of trust can be extreme in families suffering through addiction. From thefts and crimes to small things in the relationship, these trust-shattering actions can be a real problem.
Loss of Trust When a Loved One is Addicted
Trust within the relationship is often one of the first casualties of addiction, and that loss of trust can be permanent if the situation is not addressed quickly and professionally. This loss of trust may be the result of a theft, as addicts may steal family possessions and cash to feed their addiction. It may stem from the lying that almost always results, as addicts try to hide their problems from those they love.
No matter what the root cause, this loss of trust can be enormously problematic for the family members involved. The good news is that the loss of trust can be reversed with fast action and quality rehab, so why not reach out to Resurgence today to take the first step toward a better life and a healthier relationship?
Violence and Abuse in the Relationships of Addicts
Violence and addiction often go hand in hand, and being addicted to drugs or alcohol can increase the odds of domestic violence, spousal abuse and other types of relationship dangers. Those who are in the midst of addiction may not be able to think clearly, and they may lash out at those they love, often with violent results.
The fact that the addict or alcoholic regrets their actions afterward does not make the violence any less dangerous, and this danger is one more reason to seek treatment sooner rather than later. If you are at risk of violence in your relationship, you need to reach out now, and help is just a phone call away.
Getting a Loved One Professional Help at Resurgence
It has often been said that addiction is a family disease, and that is certainly the case. If you are worried about a friend or family member who is struggling with addiction, you know firsthand just how difficult life can be, but you do not have to suffer in silence or do it alone, not when you have the experts at Resurgence in your corner.
Now that you know a little more about how addiction impacts relationships, you should also know that you are not alone, and that what you are going through is not uncommon. If you are ready to take the next step and reach out for help, we encourage you to pick up the phone and give the caring counselors at Resurgence a call. (855) 458-0050
