Counseling For Families Of Drug Addicts Orlando

Counseling for families of drug addicts Orlando and understanding how vast the effects reach. There is a reason they call addiction a “Family Disease”. It affects each and every close person involved in the addicts life. We make the mistake as professionals in the medical and mental health field of solely focusing on the addict and often times skip over the fact that the family has gone through a very traumatic and upsetting event. One that will change their lives forever.

As a therapist, I am also a women in recovery who can say first hand that I had to watch the devastating effects it had on my parents, and all who loved and cared about me. At the time of my addiction I could have cared less. I thought it was my business and that they should leave me alone and stop prying into my life.

Counseling For Families Of Drug Addicts Orlando

Drug addiction puts a tremendous amount of stress on parents, siblings, and close relatives.

When a family member is addicted to drugs you can be sure of the following to happen:

You cannot count on the addict to do anything they say they will do.
They become distracted and forgetful. Their main objective is to get high and feed their addiction.
Finding money and valuable items missing from your home is very common.
They get fired from jobs, and are a no show to important family events as well.
There can be nights even days they do not come home.
An addict in the throws of addiction does things that when in their right mind they could never imagine doing.
They will look you in the eyes and lie straight to your face. Getting upset and blaming you for accusing them they are on drugs is a common way to deflect the truth and dodge you.

Family members get caught up in fights due to the problems the drug use causes. It can brings feelings of guilt to parents and shame. Parents see it often as reflection of their parenting and beat themselves up. They are sure that this would and could never happen to their family. They wonder, “where did we go wrong”?

Counseling For Families Of Drug Addicts Orlando

For most addicts they do not believe at the time of active drug use that they are out of control and sick. They may have an idea that their use is out of control but the urge to use is so strong they minimize the severity to themselves and others. They are unable to see all of the problems being caused to the loved ones. Others may be aware but are to upset feeling they are being persecuted by the family so they do not know how to ask for help. Drug use takes away the addicts ability to enjoy life and spend time with those they love.

A very common reaction or behavior of the family is to enable the addict. The definition of enabling is when the family attempts to help the addict get out of a tight situation. An example may be a parent who pays their child’s rent, pays off a drug dealer that is after them for money and gives them money without having to be accountable. By doing this it allows the addict to just continue the downward and destructive cycle and lifestyle they are living.

Counseling For Families Of Drug Addicts Orlando

The Effects of Enabling

Why is enabling so common? The family member feels guilty and responsible in some way. Also the family is so full of anxiety that they cannot imagine that tough love would ever work. When the addict knows you can be manipulated easily they will depend more and more on the family to come through and support their growing addiction.

Some family members are extremely angry, resentful and hurt. They take it extremely personal. After a while the family starts to see they are being manipulated and will become shut off. Yes enabling may be well-intended but when you start to see the truth you soon realize that all it does is helps the addiction to grow.

If you are living with a loved one that is addicted to drugs then your life is being thrown upside down. You deserve the help just as much as the addict. You many not be able to get the addict into treatment or therapy right now but it is vital that the rest of the family get help to better understand how you can support recovery and not the ongoing use. Learn to say no to your husband, wife, child, etc. It may be the hardest thing imaginable but by doing so, your saving their life.