Smellgist_News is pleased to post this arcticle on its platform and to share it. After receiving a mail from Caleb Anderson of recoveryhope.org wishing to write a guest post on smellgist.com.
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You see it on the nightly news. You hear stories from people
you know. But you never think it could happen to you or your partner. But it
can… and it does. Substance abuse and addiction affects more than 24 million people in the United States, along
with their spouses and significant others.
Sometimes it’s gradual. Pills meant to be taken for
occasional back pain become an everyday necessity. A drink after work turns
into three or four. Occasional partying with friends becomes a nightly ritual.
Sometimes it’s sudden. The loss of a loved one leads to
depression and unhealthy coping mechanisms. An injury or surgery results in a
dependency. A long-time prescription quits providing relief, and something
stronger is needed.
Whether you are just finding out your partner is an addict
or you’re coming to terms with it after years of addictive behavior, you’ve got
a tough choice to make. Do you stay or do you go? If your significant other
decides to seek rehabilitation, you may choose to stay and provide support as
he or she pursues sobriety. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to
leave. Before you decide, there are lots of factors to take into consideration.
Severity of the
Addiction
An addiction is a powerful thing. So powerful, in fact,
feeding the addiction can become the addict’s sole priority. Their next high or
fix takes precedence over everything, even the people they care about most.
High-functioning addicts may be able to hold down a job and continue to help
support a family, maintaining a sense of normalcy for weeks, months, or even
years. Those with more severe addictions usually cannot.
Unfortunately, the severity of the addiction is no
indication of how difficult it will be for a partner to get clean and stay
clean. Underlying factors, including mental health conditions like anxiety and
depression, may also exist. Whether the condition preceded the drug use or
resulted from it, mental illness can make it even more difficult to permanently
kick a drug or alcohol habit.
Addiction-Related
Issues
Because of the all-encompassing nature of the disease,
addiction can lead to other problems in a marriage or long-term
relationship. Loss of trust, financial hardships, legal trouble, and issues with infidelity can make a difficult
situation even harder for a couple dealing with addiction. The impact these
issues have on your own well-being should certainly factor into the decision to
stay or go.
One addiction-related issue that must be addressed
immediately is any form of abuse, be it verbal, emotional, or physical. As an
addict falls deeper into his or her addiction, it is natural for couples to
experience more conflict. If arguments become abusive in any way, the best
choice for the partner is to separate him or herself from the addict.
Protecting and caring for yourself and any other family members living in the
home must be his or her top priority.
Rehabilitation
Options
It is important to remember addiction, like other mental and
behavioral disorders, are serious conditions that are highly treatable. Medications, psychotherapy,
holistic therapy, and support groups are just some of the available treatment
options. A great place to begin for most addicts and their support systems are
12-step meetings, as they are easily accessible. These meetings can offer
immediate support to addicts, as well as connect them with sponsors and
healthcare professionals.
Of course, no addiction recovery program will work for your
partner unless he or she believes help is needed and agrees to go. In some
cases, an intervention may be required. In addition to
asking the addict to pursue help, an intervention can help educate family and
friends on addiction, explain how others might be enabling the addict, and
discuss treatment options.
Ultimately, only your partner can choose how to handle their
substance abuse or addiction. And only you can decide how best to support
yourself and your loved one as they address it.
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