Addiction is a disease that impacts millions of people. While there is no more complex and life-changing impact than what it has on the person using the drugs or alcohol, it also plays a role in the family of that individual. Learning how addiction affects families can give you some idea of why your addiction is doing more damage than you think. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, we can provide you with the support and guidance you need to overcome these risks.
How Addiction Affects Families – There Are Many Implications
Every family unit is different. However, every family unit with a person with addiction in it is impacted in some manner. Substance use disorder, of any type or severity, can play a role in the lives of every person interacting with or living with that individual. These substances impact the way a user interacts with and plays a role in the lives of others. Here are some examples of how addiction affects families most commonly.
Young Children and Addiction
When young children experience addiction in a family member, especially a parent, this will change their outlook and overall mental needs. In some situations, children growing up in these situations are at a high risk of being neglected, either emotionally or physically, because of the user’s focus on drugs or alcohol. This is not something you can control if you have an addiction. There’s also the limitations created for a young person watching their family member upset, facing physical pain, and struggling with mental health, even if they don’t know what’s happening.
Children may display this through more aggressive behavior. Some will act out, while others will bottle up. Often, children will experience some level of emotional distress if they are watching family members arguing over drug use, too.
Teens and Addiction
When a parent, sibling, or another close family member is using drugs or alcohol, teens will react even if they claim to be fine. Teens with family members who use drugs are more likely to use themselves. They are also more likely to see fewer risks to drinking alcohol at a young age. This may make them more likely to be involved in reckless behavior, such as engaging in unprotected sex, dangerous drug use, or driving intoxicated.
Other teens will feel embarrassed by their parents. They may also deal with more complicated mental health disorders because of this. They may pull away from relationships or even dislike being at home.
Adult Relationships and Addiction
Relationships within the same household are often based on the way people treat each other. When there is one person who commands a lot of the attention, fails to communicate, is aggressive, or is otherwise self-focused, that impacts the relationship of every other person. For example, in some cases, one partner may become resentful of the other for their addiction. In some cases, there can be aggression and constant arguments.
What Can You Do to Fix These Problems?
Seeing how addiction impacts others is important. From there, you’ll need to work on finding treatments and solutions that can work for you. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, that begins with understanding what your unique needs are. A custom addiction treatment plan is created for you that shows where you need to start with your care. This may include:
- Detox treatment services
- Individual therapy sessions
- Family therapy programs for each person
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
- Group therapy sessions
The ultimate goal is to help you to remove the drugs from your life so you can gain mental clarity. Until this occurs, it is very difficult for a person to actually see what role addiction has played in their family both in the recent term and across the years of drug and alcohol use.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida Can Help Your Family Through Addiction
As you talk to your loved ones, and try to work through these complicated situations, consider getting help. Learning how addiction affects families should make it clear that you and your loved ones need support and guidance. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, we can provide that type of care to you. Call us now at 866.294.5306 for immediate help.
