How Addiction Affects the Family
Drug addiction can have many short- and long-term effects on the health and well-being of everyone in the family, including the person who has become addicted. It can help to understand these symptoms of addiction and their effects.
Violence and Medical Problems
Drug addiction can cause a loss of emotional control, which can result in ambivalence and violent outbursts in the home. This raises the stress level of family members. Medical problems can also manifest themselves when you use, which not only costs you your health but also end up costing your family in terms of stress and money for medical treatment.
Relationships and Mental Health
The scope of damage caused by addiction extends to your relationships with family. Prolonged frustration, worry, and health effects of chronic stress can cause your family to feel as though the only way to self-preservation is to abandon their relationship with you.
Relationships benefit mental health but, without them, family members may develop depression, anxiety, or other conditions that can limit their abilities and resources even further.
Communication, support, and understanding can help to repair family relationships and restore health. This infographic from Yellowstone Recovery has more information on addiction’s effects on family members.
