For people struggling with a substance use disorder, it is more than a habit. The cravings that compel them to keep drinking or using can be so all-consuming that they feel powerless to resist. Eventually, their self-destructive behavior begins adversely affect the people who care about them most, which is why you’ll often hear addiction called a family disease. This Recovery Month, here’s what you need to know about how to heal and move forward.
How Does Addiction Affect Your Family?
Codependency and enabling are two common characteristics of families touched by addiction. Out of a misdirected wish to help and support your family member, you might do things such as lending them money or making excuses for their behavior, hoping these things will somehow convince them to get help.
Over time, this imbalance can become so one-sided that you resent your addicted loved one for prioritizing substance use over their relationships with you and other family members. You might also struggle with trust issues if they become manipulative, secretive, or are frequently dishonest with you.
Your Loved One’s Illness Can Also Make You Sick
Long-term substance use issues can weaken your family’s bonds. Putting so much energy toward trying to help someone else requires diverting your attention away from essential responsibilities needed to maintain other aspects of a healthy family dynamic.
Family members of addicted loved ones also carry a heavy burden of stress. You might constantly wonder how your loved one is spending time or money and even whether they are safe, happy, and healthy. Chronic anxiety can severely affect your physical and mental health. Living with elevated cortisol levels can cause a host of problems, from inflammation to insomnia. You can also be more vulnerable to developing depression and other mood disorders.
The Benefits of a Family Intervention
If your previous efforts to convince your loved one to seek treatment haven’t succeeded – or if you aren’t sure where to start – a family intervention can give you a much-needed break from all your worries.
A professional consultant can teach you how to host an intervention, keep the conversation on a positive track, and forestall any arguments or emotional outbursts that might otherwise occur. Our trained interventionists will help you address your loved one’s concerns, offer empathy, and explain the many benefits of seeking professional addiction treatment.
At Intervention On Call, our team has decades of experience working with families who want to repair damaged relationships. We offer affordable remote services for people who have consistently refused treatment, denied the severity of their illness, and caused strife within formerly loving relationships. When an addicted loved one finally agrees to get help, your family can begin the journey to recovering and repairing the damage. Let us give you the tools and solutions to overcome objections and restore your peace of mind. Contact us today to get an appointment within 48 hours of your confidential call.