When your mind is so focused on feeding your addiction it can often have serious consequences for other aspects of your life, especially your relationship with family and friends.
Addiction is a severe problem that impacts your physical and mental health. It should not come as a surprise that your ability to maintain healthy relationships with those around you will be significantly impaired by your addiction.
It often requires you to go through a complete reset of your priorities and get the professional help you need, by visiting a wellness retreat, for instance, to be able to put your addiction behind you and reconnect with the people who matter to you.
Here is a look at some of the ways addiction can ruin relationships.
Relationships can fail when that bond of trust is broken
One of the fundamental cornerstones of any relationship is the ability to trust each other.
Addicts often have a propensity for dishonesty and lying becomes a habit to try and hide the reality of their situation.
If you start giving false answers and hiding your actions through acts of dishonesty it is bound to put your personal relationships under serious strain.
Your behavior becomes more aggressive
You can always control your emotions when battling addiction. That means you can resort to violence and aggression, especially when you are being questioned about your actions or behavior.
Even a mild amount of provocation can result in a bad response on your part. If you notice that you are becoming less tolerant and more aggressive as a result of your addiction it can hurt your relationships.
Relationships become one-sided
A healthy relationship requires positive input from both parties. There is often a scenario when someone starts to think that you are simply taking advantage of their kindness rather than giving anything back in return.
Once that hurt and resentment at being involved in such a one-sided relationship takes hold it becomes very challenging to repair that sort of emotional damage.
Someone close to you becomes an enabler
It can often happen that a loved one will try to take the weight of responsibility on their own shoulders for your addictive behavior.
They might be providing you with money or food in an attempt to help you or appease you. However, this eventually creates a scenario where a line is drawn. This can eventually cause a relationship to suffer or break down.
A loved one steps away and you don’t do anything about it
Living with an addict is simply too much for some people. They try to help and make allowances for your behavior, at first. But when they don’t get much response and they start to feel the relationship is too destructive they eventually step away.
If any of these red flags are familiar you will at least be recognizing that addiction is ruining your relationships.
Beating your addiction often requires professional intervention. Seek the help you need as the first important step to repairing the damage you may have done to the health of your relationship with loved ones.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Rita Wray says
Very sad topic.
heather says
This was a powerful post thank you for sharing this one lot of important information in this one.
Kim Henrichs says
A very good read – thank you!
Antoinette M says
Heartbreaking for all people involved.
Dreaa Drake says
This is interesting thank you for sharing!
Marisela Zuniga says
It’s hard dealing with a loved one that has an addiction. Thank you for sharing this post.
Dreaa Drake says
Addiction is the worse thing ever! It’s not easy for anyone.