Anytime you are dealing with someone who has an addiction, your life can quickly become turned upside down. You begin a ride of a lifetime, and not a pleasant one – a never ending emotional rollercoaster until the addict seeks treatment. Feelings of shame, anger, fear, sadness, frustration, helplessness, and despair are just some of the emotions you may experience when dealling with an addict.
On top of the emotional rollercoaster, people dealing with an addict often put their lives on the back burner allowing their own interest and activities to take back seat if they even attend to them at all. Their entire lives begin to revolve around the addict. Counselors who work with drug addicts and alcoholics strongly recommend that loved ones, family, and friends of addicts move on with their own lives by putting the focus back on themselves. The sooner loved ones realize they have no power over the person with the addiction, the sooner they can accept their limitations and take care of themselves. It is strongly suggested that those dealing with an addict seek out addiction support groups for friends and family members affected by substance abuse, such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and Families Anonymous. They can be very helpful in getting your own life back. When you see others that have been in the same spot you are, and how they moved past it and can actually smile and have a good time gives you the strength and belief that you too can be happy once again.
Other things you can do to help manage your emotions are deep breathing. When you’re nervous or upset your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. Deep breathing for a couple minutes sends more oxygen to the brain and can help you calm down Even doing normal household cleaning tasks such as vacuuming can help you get your focus back on you. Try running, work on your car, rearrange your home, gardening, mow the yard, whatever you can do to change your focus. For some, journaling, drawing, or painting is great outlets.
It can seem next to impossible to think about yourself when you are living on an emotional roller coaster with an addict but you can get your life back. It is the addict’s responsibility to take ownership of their addiction and behavior and not yours to own the emotional backlash.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/
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I know those feelings well. I tried to get my husband to get help more times than I care to remember. I finally left him and told him I would be back only if he got help. He continued on his road to destruction for 6 months before it hit him that I really meant it. He checked himself in to rehab and when he was released, I moved back in. He's been clean for 2 years now and things are great. I pray for continued success for him and a long and happy life for us.
ReplyDeleteI was an enabler to my addict husband. Until I got the help I needed, I wasn't able to get him the help he needed. We're both doing much better these days.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is a heavy equipment driver and he is also an alcoholic. I don't know how he hid it for as long as he did. When he did make a mistake it put 2 of his fellow workers in the hospital. They will be OK but the incident has put him out of a job and into rehab. The company will hold the job for him since he has been there so long, but he is going to have to prove that he is willing to give up his drinking before they let him go back.
ReplyDeleteLiving with an addict is like being strapped to a time bomb. They are volatile and you never know when they are going to go off. You may get hurt. Most likely, frequently. You can get help, regardless of whether they do or not. In fact, you may be able to help them to the point where they will seek help. Don't wait, do it now.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to get so wrapped up the the problems of an addict that you forget you have a life of your own. You think that your every waking hour should be spent trying to save them. Often, in trying to save them, you lose yourself. You have to take care of you first.
ReplyDeleteYou hit all of the feelings dead on. It makes you feel so helpless and powerless. You want to do something positive for them, but you just don't know where to start.
ReplyDelete