Addiction is a major problem that should not be ignored, even by spouses or family members of the affected person. When romantic relationships and addiction merge, there are negative mental and physical effects experienced by both parties.
Individuals that are struggling with addiction suffer from poor social relations and are unable to maintain healthy relationships. It is common for individuals to lose their self-esteem as they fall deeper into the cycle of addiction.
There are many ways that addiction can result in the downfall of a relationship. When more time and effort is put into getting drugs, the individual who has an addiction has less time to spend on maintaining their relationship.
In this blog post, we will go over a few examples of the countless ways that addiction harms romantic relationships.
Addiction Creates Dishonesty
Honesty is one of the first things that addiction takes away from a relationship. The person addicted to substances will often lie for fear of being reprimanded or simply judged for his or her habit. The individual with an addiction also feels that nobody understands their situation and chooses to be secretive with everyone.
As addiction takes root, the addicted individual may start lying about simple and innocent things. This could include where they have been, who they’ve been spending time with, how they spent money, and even why things have suddenly started disappearing from the house.
Dishonesty may become persistent for individuals in romantic relationships and addiction issues may get worse over time if there is not a solution in place. Finding treatment for an addiction is the best option when it comes to saving a romantic relationship.
Loss of Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of every relationship but when one party becomes an addict, they will slowly become secretive, socially distant, and lie when the situation calls for it. The addict loses credibility, loyalty, and respect when they start lying. An intimate relationship like marriage cannot stand strong when there is a loss of trust.
In romantic relationships and addiction, when trust is gone it often leads to frequent disagreements and arguments. Each partner in the relationship becomes fearful, possessive, and ultimately loses interest in maintaining the relationship.
Domestic Abuse and Violence
An addicted person is for the most part never in their right state of mind. They are always engaged in personal and external battles. When they are not angry about themselves, they are angry at others who judge or despise them. They are so consumed by anger and resentment that they often resort to abuse and violence in the relationship.
Substance abuse has also been known to cause high levels of aggressive behavior. An addicted person only needs a little provocation to explode into an uncontrollable rage. The other person who is not addicted could also lose patience with the addicted partner and resort to violence. If both parties don’t find a solution to the problem, the relationship will suffer or ultimately come to an end.
Financial Constraints
In a relationship where one partner is addicted to substances, it is likely that they will also suffer from financial constraints. In most cases, the addicted person will no longer be able to work and contribute to the upkeep of the home. Instead, they will be taking money away from the home to feed their destructive habit.
Coupled with other challenges of living with an addict, financial problems will most likely lead to the end of the relationship. Feelings of resentment and unworthiness are common when romantic relationships and addiction are at a crossroads.
Codependency
Codependency sometimes happens in relationships where there is an addicted person involved. The life of the entire family, in this case, revolves around addiction. For example, the wife of an addict might think she is helping her husband by giving him money to buy drugs so he can avoid withdrawal symptoms. But in reality, she is simply feeding his habit and preventing her husband from getting the help he needs.
A codependent relationship with an addict does not last long as the addiction will often be accompanied by other destructive behaviors. Codependency is damaging to both parties because a healthy relationship is supposed to be mutually beneficial to both parties. The relationship will eventually fall apart when it cannot stand the ever-increasing demands of addiction.
Heal Romantic Relationships and Addiction Issues at Georgia Addiction Treatment Center
Addiction can cause serious damage to any relationship, from loss of trust to abuse and violence. Individuals struggling with addiction typically become a completely different person when under the influence. This leaves the sober partner feeling frustrated, lost, and even afraid of their life. It can be hard to love someone who has an addiction problem. For individuals struggling with romantic relationships and addiction, trust, hope and love can be restored with the right amount of support.
At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we can help you or your loved one overcome addiction and start on the journey to recovery. Our treatment center is located just south of Atlanta and our programs are designed to address all types of alcohol and substance abuse issues. We have board-certified therapists and counselors waiting to help you.
We also offer a wide range of family support programs as well as aftercare plans. Call us today to find out how we can help you take the first step towards recovery. You can also contact us on our website to learn more about our addiction treatment programs.
