Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Are Family Illnesses
Addiction and alcoholism aren’t only a question of curing the addict or alcoholic, the family also needs to acknowledge their pain and then get help.
As Al-Anon says, families and friends tend to be relieved and surprised as soon as they understand they did not cause the alcohol dependency, and that they cannot cure it and they aren’t able to control it.
Households with a alcoholic or substance abuser becomes dysfunctional and falls into chaos and crisis. It’s no longer a well-balanced healthy system. As the drug abuse develops your family also ends up being unhealthy: socially, monetarily, psychologically, emotionally and possibly even physically – with poor health resulting from a variety of stress-related difficulties.
Spiritually there’s a reduction of hope along with an end to happiness. Family members are unable to separate the sickness from the individual they love, so there is a struggle between loving the addict and holding them in contempt. A setting of confidence, courtesy, respect, love and kindness is substituted with one of suspicion, dread, betrayal, depression and bitterness.
Co-dependency occurs as a reaction to the disorderly conditions in the household of the alcoholic or drug addict and creates unhealthy kinds of relating and behavior. Frequently co-dependents manifest compulsions of their own and a loss of control very like that of the substance addict.
Unhealthy feelings, thought processes and reactions between family members and the alcoholic or drug addict begin as coping mechanisms to help the family members survive as they start experiencing profound emotional pain, however, these quickly end up being self-defeating. Co-dependency patterns normally include controlling, perfectionism, repression of emotions, unreasonable rules, a deficit of true intimacy, and behavioural addictions, like working too much, overspending, overeating, religiosity, and so forth.
Families with members battling drug addiction or alcohol dependency also possess patterns of denial. They are not able to recognize the magnitude or progress of the issue. Forms of denial include anger, blame, lessening the condition, justifications, evasion and deflection. Denial blinds the alcoholic or substance abuser and their spouse and children from recognizing the truth.
Enabling is a very common response to addiction that takes various forms. It makes it possible for the alcoholic or drug addict to minimize the effects of his or her abusing drugs and conduct. The enabler is a family member or friend that attempts to help the alcoholic or drug addict and who’ll lie for and save the substance abuser or alcoholic from diverse misfortunes. While the enabler may believe they’re assisting the individual with an chemical dependency the opposite is true. Enablers encourage the disease of chemical dependency to grow to far more acute levels.
It’s my opinion the addicts rehabilitation is dependent on their family’s recovery. Which is why treatment methods should include educational and family group therapy sessions. In this secure surrounding both the alcoholic/addict as well as the family can be given a chance to start the healing of the sometimes tragic repercussions of their abusing drugs.
Self-care and the proper care of other family members has to be the priority. Never let your family life to become overshadowed by the negativity of chemical dependency. Alcoholism and drug addiction can cause isolation, a sense of guilt and humiliation. By breaking the cycle of silence and denial both the abuser and their loved ones can start to understand, get rid of shame and process repressed emotions and thoughts. The family can learn that everyone performed a part in the dependency but, no one is responsible for creating it.
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