This person is having these intense compulsions, to acquire that substance so that they can feel like a human. And that might mean doing things that they wouldn’t otherwise do. It reduces the risk of death by over 50% and it’s one of the most effective medications in all of medicine.

It’s a human condition with human consequences, and being that we’re all human, we’re all vulnerable. Addicts can come from any life and from any family. It’s likely that in our lifetime, if we don’t love someone with an addiction, we’ll know someone who does, so this is an important conversation to have, for all of us. I’ve worked with plenty of addicts, but the words in this post come from loving one. I have someone in my life who has been addicted to various substances.

Ways To Manage Loving An Addict

Being in a relationship with an addicted person can be difficult, and there’s no shame in walking away. Especially if leaving your partner might be the best option for both of you. These support groups offer partners and loved ones of addicts a place to share their experiences. This can help you learn from others who share a similar experience.

• Furthermore, try not to make excuses for him either for being an addict or for not accepting to get help or treatment.
• Increasingly, programs are available to help those who recognize that they have a substance-use problem but are not ready for complete abstinence.
• Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
• His family don’t know and I won’t tell my friends; they would be appalled that I’m mixed up with this.

The competition is relentless as you tirelessly strive to keep your loved one from succumbing to the seductive allure of substances. The weight of guilt settles upon your shoulders as you convince yourself that you could have done more to prevent or cure their addiction. So focus on your life and explore what might fulfill you, from new hobbies to career changes, traveling, or meeting new people. The possibilities are endless when you learn to care for your needs.

Their Focus is on the Substance

Im sorry i fell asleep in my car, im sorry i was at my grandmas, im sorry someone had a crisis, im sorry i was narcaning someone to save, Every single excuse as to why he was gone so long. I mean ive been accused of sleeping with someone daily, ive been called every name in the dictionary if im ever late or with friends. Then anger creeps in because its like hell with you you have so many excuses and im suppose to be ok with it but when i do its automatically a lie. I cant even begin to explain the frustration, hurt, agony, it literally tears my soul apart. Long nights crying myself to sleep thinking maybe if i just showed him proof.

The first step is to come to terms that the person you love is a drug addict, alcoholic, or substance abuse in general. You may have difficulties knowing the symptoms at first. But when you do, start finding solutions to manage it. Treatment centers often provide family therapy, where you can learn more about addiction and healthy ways to communicate or set boundaries with struggling loved ones.

What It’s Like to Love an Addict

Sometimes getting addicted to people could be very toxic. Many people feel like it’s easy to change their loved ones. Being in a relationship with someone who is into too much alcohol, or substance abuse as a whole is not something convincing enough to change them. Relationships should be an addition or complement to people and not change them. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can take its toll on your own mental health as you set aside your own needs in service of theirs.

Addiction numbs emotions, making it difficult for addicts to connect deeply with their own feelings, let alone those of their partner. Emotional intimacy can suffer greatly in such circumstances. While you can’t actually be “addicted” to love, you can certainly become emotionally dependent on romantic relationships so much that it negatively affects your well-being. Although experts agree across the board that you can’t actually become addicted to relationships, or love in general, many relationship and post-breakup patterns can certainly resemble addiction.

What to Expect When You Love a Drug Addict

Or how addiction could be more powerful than his love for me. I will never understand how he could love so hard and still hurt so many people. And I will never understand a God or a universe that could rip him from this world at 35 years old. And so when you’re sober, it’s almost like your raw emotion is just flowing everywhere. And I had felt good naturally out of nowhere, and I was like, is this what life is like, feeling okay?

• While you may offer unwavering love and support, it’s essential to acknowledge that specialized assistance is often necessary for their journey toward healing.
• But just like other addictions, an obsessive need for love should be treated with care.
• If you have been waiting to see whether things would get better without professional help, please consider getting help NOW, before things become even worse.
• He tells me I’m the reason he isn’t doing drugs and that I am the reason his head is above water.
• About a third of people with a diagnosable mental health condition, and about half of those with a severe mental health condition, have some form of substance use disorder, research shows us.