A battle with drug addiction can affect and alter every aspect of your life, and your personal relationships are not an exception. Substance abuse can force you to revolve your entire life around using and getting more. Some of the most important parts of any relationship, such as honesty, trust, and open communication, can be difficult or even impossible to maintain when your energy is needed to fight addiction. Addiction’s effects on your relationships can be devastating. With the help of a licensed substance abuse treatment program, however, you can start getting clean, healing, and repairing those strained or even broken relationships.
If you or a loved one is suffering from substance use disorder, know that help is available when you need it. Call Oceanfront Recovery in Laguna Beach today at 877.296.7477, speak confidentially to one of our experienced intake specialists, or visit us online. We offer specialized recovery programs, mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders, and an approach to recovery personalized to your specific needs. Let us help you begin to regain control of your life, free from the burden of addiction, with our treatment programs.
Addiction and Relationships
There are several different ways that drug addiction can negatively affect a relationship, including but in no way limited to:
- Loss of Trust: Trust is often considered the most important aspect of any healthy relationship, and substance abuse often leads to a loss of trust. Someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction may lie about their usage habits, steal in order to purchase substances, or engage in secretive behavior. These types of dishonesty can foster a growing rift between two people, and those without addiction may not understand that cravings can be more powerful than the resolve, to be honest.
- General Intimacy Issues: Addiction can be a very isolating disease. Struggles with intimacy can manifest themselves differently, and individuals who have intimacy issues before developing an addiction can see these issues worsen when they begin using. A person battling addiction may feel that they cannot enjoy intimate activities without first using a substance.
- Codependency: Codependency can often become a large part of a relationship with an addicted person. A person who loves someone struggling with addiction may try to help them in the wrong ways, such as offering money to buy substances to avoid withdrawal. Eventually, they may gain a sense of satisfaction from being needed by the addicted person. Codependency can also be found between two people who both engage in substance abuse or in any relationship that enables an addicted person to continue a pattern of self-destruction.
Repairing Relationships Affected by Substance Abuse
It takes time to repair relationship damage caused by addiction. Often, there are lies, anger, and hurt feelings that must be worked through to maintain a bond with someone. Regardless of who is battling addiction, both members of the relationship must work on themselves to find a healthy place as an individual. Someone with a substance abuse disorder should join an addiction treatment program that offers to counsel, and other parties within the relationship should consider individual counseling of their own.
Find the Treatment Necessary at Oceanfront Recovery
The most important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to seek recovery. If you’re ready to begin the journey of getting clean and repairing relationships damaged by substance abuse, Oceanfront Recovery in Laguna Beach can be by your side every step of the way. As a small boutique provider that provides individualized treatment to men and women in a beautiful location, our vision is to provide the best care possible for our clients while restoring families and relationships affected by the disease. To learn more, visit us online or call us at 877.296.7477.
