What is the effect of addiction on the family?
Addiction of any kind takes a tremendous toll on family members. Here are a few of the problems facing families living with addiction: Absence and Inconsistency: As the addiction grows, the addict is increasingly absent from the family – physically and emotionally. Family members never know from moment to moment or day-to-day what condition the addict will be in. This causes anxiety. Family members may take on different tasks, or roles, in order to cope with the anxiety. Members may over function in an effort to make up for whatever the addict is taking from the family. They may try to “lighten the mood” by becoming silly or distract from the addiction by acting out in other ways. While these actions do help family members cope in the moment, they do nothing to address or resolve the problem. And, often, they become problems unto themselves. Silence and Anger: Families living with addiction often conspire to “keep the secret,” as if doing so will make the problem go away. This silence
