Caring for a loved one who is also an addict can put a huge strain on you and your lifestyle. If an addicted close friend or family member is suffering with addiction it can often leave you feeling frustrated, sad or even guilty that your loved one is going through this trying time. Unfortunately, there is little one can do on his/her own to try and stop the addict from participating in the harmful behavior, except learn more about how to cope with addiction and help an addicted loved one seek professional help. Learning about chemical dependency, its effects, and options for recovery provide a better understanding of the situation, the support available and the future ahead.

How Chemical Dependency Occurs

It is very important to understand that a person doesn’t become addicted to a substance because of a flaw or weakness in his or her character. Chemical dependency happens when someone becomes physically and psychologically dependent on a substance. At first, the chemical may seem harmless, but over time, the addict craves larger and more frequent doses of the drug as the person’s body becomes more and more reliant on it.

Soon enough, an addict’s body and mind become completely consumed by this dependency. Actual physical changes occur in the brain that chemically change the makeup and process by which the brain functions. This thereby affects the person’s psychological functioning and impacts the individual’s behavior. He or she may become isolated, display drastic changes in mood and personality, or lose interest in anything aside from feeding the addiction. As chemical dependency becomes more and more controlling, it becomes harder for the person to quit; they must continue using in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. For this reason, it is important that the family doesn’t try and treat the addict themselves. Professional help is not only needed but required.

Impact on Friends and Family

Regardless of your relationship to the chemically dependent family member, sister, brother, daughter, father, cousin, etc., the impact of the person’s abuse is life changing. The behavior can affect your emotions, relationships, friendships, and independence. The unpredictable, unreliable behavior of a chemically dependent person leaves family members and loved ones responsible for picking up the pieces while also feeling hurt, fear, disappointment, frustration, resentment, embarrassment, and a whole host of other negative emotions. It is easy to wonder how this could have happened, or why the addicted person can’t get off the substance. Oftentimes, these emotions can create conflict and divisions within families, where some members want to approach the problem using tough love, and others want to approach it through more support and encouragement.

Finding Support

While it may be true that one person alone cannot control the behavior of the addict, the person can learn appropriate ways to support the addict while still taking care of his or her own health and happiness. Joining a support group, such as Al-Anon/Alateen, or speaking with a counselor who specializes in addiction are both great ways to learn the skills needed to cope with the addict’s behavior while taking care of you. As a family, it is important to also learn about the different options available that can help treat addiction. Interventions, rehab clinics, and groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Alateen are all great avenues for seeking help. In learning about the resources that can help addicts, family members can better understand what the addicted member is going through and what forms of help they can suggest.