6 Common Family Roles in an Addicted Household
We all know that substance abuse is a family disease – it not only affects the user, but the whole family, as well.
Living under the same roof with someone who’s dependant on alcohol, family members must navigate and endure the chaotic world of addiction, ultimately adopting coping strategies that can create lasting negative effects.
What’s Your Role?
Read MoreThe Importance of Urgency – Don’t Wait to Start Addiction Treatment
Drug and alcohol addiction are powerful diseases that should not be taken for granted as they can completely overtake both the body and mind. Addiction can happen to anyone. There’s a reason addiction is characterized as a chronic disease, it is influenced by genetics, it can be treated but not cured, and addiction has both medical and behavioral components, just like every other chronic medical illness. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that once abuse has begun, the brain’s structure and function are altered, resulting in changes that persist long after drug use has ceased.
Read MoreAccepting Help as a High-Functioning Addict
When things are still holding together, it can be hard to admit you need treatment.
When you’re a high-functioning addict, it can be easy to deny your disease. After all, things aren’t falling apart. You still have your job, your family, your nice house — from the outside everything looks great. Maybe you’ve wondered if you’re drinking a bit too much, or you spouse has said something along those lines. That might be enough to get you into treatment, but to really better your life you need to accept your disease in order to change.
Read More3 Simple Gratitude Practices to Incorporate Into Your Recovery
It can be tempting to think that once you receive treatment for an alcohol or substance use disorder, you’re cured. However, as most people in recovery will tell you, maintaining long-term sobriety takes consistent dedication and effort. One of the things that can help make the process easier (and ultimately more rewarding) is to incorporate a gratitude practice into your daily routine. In fact, studies show that people who practice gratitude consistently reap a host a physical, psychological, and social benefits, including lower blood pressure, higher levels of happiness, and reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Read MoreWhy People Choose Drugs and Alcohol Over Family
The aphorism ‘blood is thicker than water’ reminds us to prioritize family. When it appears that people choose drugs and alcohol over family doubt reverberates through the deepest truths of human bonds. We become so focused on how someone could choose drugs and alcohol over family that we miss the bigger question: Why is someone in a position to choose drugs and alcohol over family in the first place? Often, people are issued an ultimatum something to the effect of: “It’s us, or the booze.” Rather than reflecting a corrosive character defect in the so-called “addict,” the answer to why people choose drugs and alcohol over family may instead lie, at least in part, at the hands of those who issued the ultimatum in the first place.
Read MoreRejection
Rejection—it’s so personal. It sticks to our souls. It does not respond to reason, and is not easily dislodged from our hearts. We can try to talk ourselves out of the indictment that comes with it, but the words we use are mostly ineffective, reinforcing our shame. I have experienced all sorts of rejection. I still feel the sting of certain family members not ever returning my phone calls and good friendships that are no more. I have heard things like, “you are not a good fit for our small group” or “since you homeschool, we didn’t think you’d fit in with us.” These words pierce. There is a finality about them. They do not leave room for further conversations.
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