Living with an addict under the same roof is challenging and overwhelming. At times, you feel suffocated and hopeless. Some even suggest abandoning them and escaping, but you know that’s easier said than done!
So, if you want to make this work and keep the family intact, here are some things to follow.
1. Understand how addiction affects the family
Addiction doesn’t just affect the addicted. The entire household suffers along with them. Family members experience different things, including.
- Stress and anxiety
- Guilt
- Depression
- Unreasonable anger toward others
- Insomnia
- Embarrassment
- Financial issues
- Irregular schedules and routines
- Possibilities of physical harm when the addicted family member is intoxicated
- Lack of security
- Trauma
- Poor self-care
- Substance abuse
Besides these, children in the household are at a high risk of experiencing the following:
- Relationship issues
- Behavioral issues
- Suicidal thoughts
2. Prioritize family safety
This is significant if you have vulnerable family members, including children, elderly, disabled people, and pets. Set rules and boundaries about household and family members’ safety.
Tell them how you expect the addict to act around at home. If they fail to maintain that, share what consequences lie ahead. This might sound harsh, but it’s important to protect everyone.
If necessary, write down all the rules and consequences to ensure everything is clear to them.
3. Talk and encourage professional assistance
When your family member is sober, have a conversation without any distraction or judgment. Share how addiction is killing them from within and that you need them in your life for a long time.
Recommend them a luxury rehab in Malibu where they can get ample of individual attention from the top therapists and counselors.
Research ahead of time and choose a center that provides customized treatment plans, a wide range of holistic treatment approaches, and the best facilities.
If they’re open to the idea, visit a Rehab center treatment program immediately and get started. Don’t delay the process lest they change their mind later! Once they start getting treatment, be supportive and understanding.
4. Never enable their actions
Often, an addict’s family members end up enabling addiction without their own knowledge.
For instance, when people try to talk some sense into your addicted family member, you might make excuses for them, lie to hide their addiction or share false explanations to protect them.
You don’t let them face the consequences of their choices. This makes them think that they are not addicted at all. They go in denial about their condition and don’t face reality, let alone get treated!
5. Cut their access to money
An addict will go to any extent to get money to buy more substance. If necessary, they will take out money from the household funds or joint account without notifying you. They might even steal your hard-earned money.
So, change where you keep money and valuables at home. If they have access to your credit cards and personal bank accounts, limit their access. If that’s not possible, open a new bank account and transfer your money into it.
If there are elderly at home, warn them against giving their savings to the addict.
6. Create an emergency contact list
Things may escalate at any moment with an addict at home. Of course, it’s not dangerous to live with an addict. However, serious levels of intoxication can lead to accidents. They might hurt themselves or others under the influence.
So, note down some reliable contacts in your phone, including friends, family, therapists, and police.
7. Focus on yourself
Living with an addict isn’t simple or easy. It drains you physically, emotionally, and psychologically. To ensure you don’t fall sick from the stress, take care of yourself.
Don’t neglect your health and get plenty of sleep, food, and relaxation. Ensure other family members do the same. If necessary, seek a therapist’s help.
Alternatively, you can also join online or in-person support groups. The 2022 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) said that 46.8 million Americans (12 years and older) suffered from abusing substances in the previous year.
With such glaring statistics, you’ll find many support groups and participants to help you cope better. Learn about others’ experiences and apply their strategies in your life.
Conclusion
While these tips help you deal with an addict and continue living, these aren’t long-term solutions. So, insist on your addicted family member to get treatment.
Lastly, if the addicted family member repeatedly puts you or other loved ones in danger, seek help and leave immediately!
Also Read: You’ve gone through addiction treatment: What next?
