Seeing an addiction in loved ones can make you feel helpless. This is because addictive behaviors come with a myriad of negative physical, emotional, behavioral, and social consequences not just for the person who is using but also for their friends and family members. If you notice signs of addiction in loved ones, now is the time to reach out to an addiction treatment center, such as TruHealing Centers.
The family therapy program at TruHealing Centers provides the support that you and your loved ones might need to strengthen relationships and communicate more effectively. Contact TruHealing Centers online or call us at [Direct] today to learn about how our family therapy program can help you and your loved one ease addictive behaviors and begin to heal.
What Are Addictive Behaviors?
Most people understand what an addiction to substances like alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, or even prescription medications is and looks like. The concept of addictive behaviors, on the other hand, is more nebulous and confusing.
It’s possible to develop an addiction to more than just benzos or opiates. This is called behavioral addiction. People with addictive behaviors can be addicted to anything from sex to gambling. Identifying this kind of addiction in loved ones may be more challenging than drugs or alcohol. Some of the activities subject to addictive behaviors are so normal that it’s difficult to believe people can become addicted to them. Yet it’s true, the cycle of addiction can take over and make living a happy, productive, and healthy life on a daily basis a struggle.
How to Identify Addictive Behaviors in a Loved One
Research on addiction and addictive behaviors points to several key behavioral patterns associated with addiction in loved ones. As you look for signs that someone special in your life is battling an addiction, there are identifiers to keep in mind, such as:
- Unsuccessful attempts at quitting – Those with addictive behaviors often express a desire to quit and even a willingness to seek help but are typically unable to follow through with these hopeful promises made to loved ones. Instead, short-term quitting phases are more common, with an inevitable relapse quickly to follow.
- A triggered relapse – One way to spot addiction in loved ones is if environmental cues like sounds, smells, and locations trigger relapses. For example, if your loved one is in recovery from alcohol addiction, a trigger might be a bar or restaurant where they regularly drank in the past.
- A loss of control – A loss of control means that your loved one is knowingly acting against their prior determination to abstain from their addictive behaviors. You can expect that their reaction to failing to exhibit control over their cravings will involve negative emotions like depression.
- Engaging in addictive behaviors not to feel sick – People with addictive behaviors will often continue participating in the same activities despite them no longer providing pleasure. This is especially true for opioid addiction, which can lead people to use the substance, so they don’t begin to feel sick when they don’t have access to the opioid.
- New addictive behaviors – Many people with addictive behaviors will eventually substitute one compulsion for another. They might suddenly become intense gambling, for example, or choose to use sexual activity in the same way they once used substances. All of this switching of addictive behaviors is a way your loved one may be battling loneliness, anxiety, or mental health disorder.
Help a Loved One Overcome Addictive Behaviors at TruHealing Centers
When you recognize signs of addiction in loved ones, it is crucial that you reach out for help from a team of professionals. At TruHealing Centers, our team can provide support and healing for a loved one struggling with addictive behaviors.
Contact us today using our secure online form, or call us confidentially at [Direct] to learn more about how family therapy might help your loved one get back on the right track.
