Understanding Addiction as a Family Disease
Most of the time, people see addiction as a personal disease. They see the one person struggling with addiction and repeating what feels like an endless cycle of highs and lows.
But that one person who is harming themselves through the use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances, has a family or loved ones. Contrary to what a lot of people may believe, addiction is often seen as a family disease. It impacts a lot more than just the one person who is actually using substances.
Let's learn more about why addiction is seen as a family disease.
Emotional Toll
One of the biggest reasons that addiction is seen as a family disease is in regards to the huge emotional toll that it takes on the parents, children, and siblings of the person struggling with addiction. It can be extremely difficult and painful to watch a loved one go through something like this due to the signs and symptoms and the inability to help them through it due to it being out of your control. These are just a few of the ways that addiction can cause an emotional toll on the family:
Experiencing signs, symptoms, and additional health problems
Getting angry at you for trying to help
Losing their job or home
Lying
Relapsing
Seeing the struggle to stay sober
Stealing
Witnessing a loved one go through withdrawal
Conflict
Addiction in the family can make loved ones feel like they have to pick or choose a side. If a child is the one with an addiction problem, the parents may either place blame on themselves, hide the ways they're helping their child from their significant other, or even enable their child's addiction. If a parent is the one with the addiction problem, relatives may step into the picture and try to take control of the situation and family, depending on what they feel is best for everyone involved.
Isolation
Even though addiction is a family disease, isolation also plays its part. While family members try to be there for their loved one who is struggling, close relatives and even friends may not completely understand the full problem at hand. This can lead to added tension and issues with people who aren't seeing the full picture. They may start to place blame, judge, or give unsolicited advice. This can lead to everyone not feeling like anyone truly understands where they're coming from and family members will start to push one another away as a way to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Financial Struggles
Financial struggles are a common occurrence with addiction. The person who has the addiction will experience financial problems, but their close family members may also take on this burden as well. These are just a few of the different ways that financial struggles can happen with addiction:
Cost of medical care or rehab
Taking time off of work to care for a loved one struggling with addiction
Paying for meals, housing, or expenses
Stealing money from loved ones to support their drug habits
Unemployment costs
Similar to addiction, financial struggles can also be a vicious cycle. These financial problems can cause additional stressors, disagreements, lies, health issues, and a lack of trust within the family dynamic.
Next Steps
Addiction can impact a family in many different ways. These are just a few of the different insights as to why addiction is seen as a family disease. While it's extremely important for the person who is addicted to reach out for additional support, it can also be extremely beneficial for the entire family to go through the recovery process as well. Since addiction is a family disease, recovery is often the most successful when everyone is in it together. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use or abuse, feel free to reach out today for an initial consultation.
