Addiction and Families: Why Recovery Isn’t Just for Addicts
When addiction to drugs or alcohol affects the life of a family member, their struggles affect your life, too. Their behavior and actions can cause you stress, worry and pain, but perhaps the most difficult aspect of addiction is the feeling of powerlessness to make the situation better. Unfortunately, feelings of guilt, shame, denial and anger can take the focus off of what is most needed, which is to get them the help they need to recover and heal. And while an integral part of any recovery program begins with an addict accepting that they have a problem and wanting help, it is also important for family members to understand that recovery should include family addiction support programs that help the family as well.
Addiction may affect each family member or friend differently. Children of an addict may feel guilty and responsible for the problem. They often experience depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, and many attempt to deflect attention from the addiction by either acting ‘too perfect’, or by acting out with behaviors such as lying, stealing, or fighting.
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