Addiction is a disease affecting your physical and mental well-being. But, what you often may fail to realize are the serious effects of addiction on your family. Addiction can negatively affect you, but it can also impact the people directly involved- your family, emotionally and physically. They may also have to deal with the financial, legal, and other consequences of your addiction.
Below, we have discussed the impact of addiction on your family!
1. Poor parenting- If you are battling addiction, it is most likely to affect your children. Moreover, if you are a single parent, the situation can worsen as your child may not have anyone to turn to. While indulging in addiction, you may be too busy looking for yourself and not focus on your responsibilities. It may also refrain you from meeting your child’s needs.
Moreover, your child is more likely to get into addiction and substance abuse at an early age which may affect their self-confidence, social development, and health, thus disturbing their emotional and mental health.
2. Loss of trust- While you are struggling with addiction, you are less likely to stay on words or follow through with your promises. It can sabotage your relationships with your loved ones. You may want to honor your commitments, but the effects of addiction may stop you from doing so. Your inability to meet your obligations can frustrate your loved ones. Your child may even find it difficult to bond with you because of a lack of trust.
3. Increased stress- You are most likely to leave all your responsibilities to your loved ones. Therefore, they may become an enabler in your addiction. Moreover, taking care of all the responsibilities, raising the children, and making the correct decisions can negatively affect their health. They may experience stress, anxiety, and high blood pressure levels. If they suppress their stress and feelings, they will eventually unleash their emotions suddenly, causing more stress among the family.
4. Financial problems- Addiction is not cheap. Moreover, if you are struggling with addiction, you are most likely to lose your job due to poor performance or carelessness. After that, you may resort to your savings to satisfy your addiction cravings. Eventually, you may find it challenging to pay for your basic needs, like food, clothing, rent, or mortgage.
You may also be caught in legal problems like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, thus increasing the financial burden in terms of the legal costs associated with it.
As an enabler, by providing money to the addict for alcohol or drugs, you will be wasting money and make the addict believe that they can continue with their addiction, and you will be around to fix their problems.
5. Physical and emotional abuse- Your addiction can bring your loved ones on edge. Simple disagreements or discussions can quickly turn into big arguments because of misunderstandings. Moreover, these fights may also start involving physical abuse. Either you may physically abuse others, or you yourself may become a victim of it.
About the business
Substance abuse and addiction is a never-ending cycle that you can break only with the proper treatment. At Steps Recovery Centers, we treat addiction and help people transform their lives- for the better. We are known for the care and compassion with which we treat our patients. For more information about us, contact us at 801-800-8142.
