Alcohol dependency and Substance Addiction Are Family Diseases
Addiction and alcohol dependency aren't only a matter of treating the addict or alcoholic, the family should probably admit their pain and then get help.
As Al-Anon claims, family members and friends are usually relieved and surprised when they understand they didn't cause the addiction to alcohol, and also that they can't cure it and they also cannot control it.
The family with a alcoholic or substance abuser becomes dysfunctional and slips into turmoil and crisis. It's no longer a healthy healthy system. As the addiction progresses family members also becomes unhealthy: socially, financially, mentally, emotionally and even physically - with poor health and wellness as a consequence of a range of stress-related difficulties.
Spiritually there's a lack of hope along with an end to contentment. Friends and family members are unable to distinguish the illness from the individual they love, so there is a struggle between caring for the addict and holding them in contempt. An environment of trust, courtesy, respect, love and kindness is substituted with one of mistrust, dread, betrayal, gloominess and resentment.
Co-dependency will grow as a response to the chaotic conditions in the household of the alcoholic or drug addict and creates harmful patterns of relating and behavior. Frequently co-dependents manifest compulsions of their own and a loss of control very similar to those of the substance abuser.
Inappropriate feelings, thought processes and responses between loved ones and the alcoholic or drug addict start as coping mechanisms that can help the family members survive as they start dealing with profound emotional pain, however, these soon become self-defeating. Co-dependency behaviours can include controlling, perfectionism, repression of emotions, Draconian rules, a lack of genuine intimacy, and behavioral addictions, such as overworking, over spending, overeating, religiosity, or anything else.
Families with members struggling with addiction or dependency on alcohol also experience patterns of denial. They are not able to recognize the extent or progress of the condition. Types of denial include anger, blame, minimizing the problem, excuses, evasion and deflection. Denial blinds the alcoholic or substance addict along with their spouse and children from realizing the truth.
Enabling is a very common reaction to chemical dependency that may various forms. It permits the alcoholic or drug addict to avoid the aftermath of their substance abuse and actions. The enabler is a family member or friend who tries to help the alcoholic or drug addict and who'll lie for and save the drug abuser or alcoholic from varied disasters. Even though the enabler may think they're helping the individual with an chemical dependency the opposite is true. Enablers allow the illness of dependency to grow to far more critical levels.
I believe the addicts rehabilitation is dependent on their family's recovery. Which is why treatment methods ought to include instructive and family group therapy sessions. Within this secure environment both the addict/alcoholic and the family can be given an opportunity to start the healing of the sometimes disastrous consequences of their abusing drugs.
Self-care along with the care of members of the family must become the main concern. Don't allow the family life to become overshadowed from the negativity of chemical dependency. Alcoholism and substance abuse causes isolation, a sense of guilt and humiliation. By breaking the cycle of silence and denial both the addict and their loved ones can begin to understand, get rid of shame and process repressed emotions. The family can discover that everyone performed a part in the dependency but, no one is responsible for causing it.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")