Addictions of any nature will have a negative effect on the lifestyle and health of the individual addict. However, it’s not just them that suffer.
Anyone close to the user can end up hurt. It’s not intentional, but the natural interactions between family members and even the attempts to help can seriously backfire.
The result is a family strained and on the verge of being torn apart.
Understanding the family roles in addiction is essential to see how everyone gets hurt and what you can do to reduce the risk.
The Family Roles
Most people react to an issue in one way or another. In the case of an addict in the family, it’s common for people to adopt roles. These roles can be extremely harmful for the addict and the family member:
Hero
The hero is someone who takes on all the responsibility for the addict and the family. They try hard to ensure the family portrays a normal appearance to others.
In many cases, they will try to fix the addict as well as resolve family issues.
Scapegoat
There is usually one family member who feels unable to help the addict and effectively becomes a problem. They are likely to be defiant, irritable, angry and act out in various ways.
They will often inadvertently divert attention from the addict, and this can cause them to be rejected by the rest of the family.
Caretaker
Caretakers tend to focus on looking after the addict and covering up any mistakes they make. They are likely to make the addiction sound less severe than it is, potentially pay for the addict’s fix, and deny how bad the issue is.
In the process, they will neglect their own needs, often resulting in mental and physical health issues.
Joker
These are sometimes referred to as the mascot. They make light of everything, focusing on humour. In this way, they can mask the problem and make everyone feel better about the world.
At the same time, they feel powerless to help.
How This Hurts Family Members
Masking physical and emotional issues inevitably leads to a variety of issues. When family members adopt the above characteristics, it’s not just the addict who suffers:
Increased Addiction Risks
Addiction has been shown to have a genetic component. If a relative has an addiction, it doesn’t mean you will get one: it simply increases the likelihood.
This is particularly concerning if it’s a parent with an addiction. No children will receive the level of care they deserve. In addition, they’ll see their parent addicted to drugs or alcohol and using them regularly. This will normalise the substances and make it more likely that the child will go on to be an addict.
It’s vital to take steps to avoid this from happening. That starts with a simple and effective online course for drug and alcohol abuse. The earlier this is done, the easier it is to persuade children to adopt a cautious attitude toward substances that can lead to addiction.
Mental Health Issues
It’s not surprising that an addict will have mental health issues. This is thanks to the effects of a substance on their brain, reducing their ability to function normally.
An addict’s mental health issues can cause problems for family members. For starters, being unable to look after loved ones means any children are at increased risk of neglect. According to studies, this increases the likelihood of anxiety and depression.
This becomes a lifelong issue that will negatively influence their quality of life.
It’s also possible that the addict can become physically violent, causing actual harm to loved ones.
Physical Health Issues
When family members put the needs of the addict first, they can overlook their own needs. It’s common to neglect nutrition, exercise, and even social contact.
Understandably, this can lead to many different physical issues, ranging from weight loss to an increased risk of disease.
Summing Up
Acknowledging that a loved one has an addiction can be hard. However, once you’ve accepted this fact, you should look at getting them specialist care.
It will reduce the strain on your family and increase the likelihood of the addict making a full recovery.