Addiction Problems with Family Work and Social Ties

People with addictions usually believe there are in control of their drug or alcohol use, that there’s no problem at all.  They may come up with smooth explanations and distracting words, but you can often notice their world falling down around them.  If you know someone like this, they may very well have drug and alcohol treatment in their future.

Family Functioning Goes Downhill With Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Unless you keep completely to yourself and have no living relatives that speak to you, you are likely to have some family around.  People with an addiction usually falter when it comes to parenting responsibilities, marital or dating relationships, and connections with extended family.  They defend their addiction behavior and brush off what others want and need.  This hurts families terribly, especially children who don’t understand. 

Keep in mind that if you had a difficult family upbringing, that foundation may be part of your drinking or drugging problem.  Covering up the emotions from painful memories or thoughts can certainly be fuel for an addiction.  Take a look before you try to forget.  Did someone in your family have a drinking or drugging problem?  Is it still going on today?

Addiction Causes Career Problems

Imagine doing a long shift at work on your toughest day (or night).  Now imagine doing this after a serious hangover or while still high.  Yeah, not so good.  Focus would go out the window, conversation skills would be impaired, and productivity would be lousy.  For the employer, this is a really bad deal all around.  There may be many missed days or days where their worker is present but hardly working. 

Going to happy hour once in a while is one thing.  Letting it bleed into the wee morning hours and having regular hangovers at work is something entirely different.  You may think that drinking after work or with the boss is helping you.  But if it gets out of control or turns into a place where you hide from your family and from work responsibilities, then you may be headed for alcohol rehab some day.  How long can that really continue before things fall apart?

Social Connections Suffer With Worsening Addiction

Good friendships can survive a lot of ups and downs.  And for many people, family will be there for you in your darkest hour.  Unfortunately, addiction really changes people for the worse.  It often makes them rude, impulsive, irresponsible, and self-absorbed.  None of these qualities work well in relationships.

Since an addiction presents itself differently from something like cancer, it may be more difficult for family and friends to rally around.  The addicted person might reject offers of help, accuse others of attacking them, and basically burn bridges left and right.  An addicted person really needs drug treatment.  Unfortunately, they might not have many people still around to help them get there. 

Drug Rehab Offers Hope For Dismal Life Direction

Drug and alcohol rehab can be a scary thought.  Being with strangers, talking about life and problems, maybe even staying away from family and friends.  But what’s worse, being a little uncomfortable for a while or allowing a dangerous addiction to get worse and worse?  Drug treatment isn’t a perfect cure, but it can help restore work dependability, family relationships, and supportive social connections.  When someone’s life suffers in those areas from addiction, drug and alcohol treatment can change your life for the better.