Fighting substance addiction can be tricky, especially if you do not have the right people as a support system. Getting into a rehab facility, such as Impact Recovery Center, is a great place to start. Nonetheless, you need to understand the people who will walk with you on your recovery journey. However, the first things you should also learn are the roles played by your family as you stride through the addiction recovery journey. That is why the information explained below is critical.
The Addict
Undoubtedly, for an addiction to be an issue in your family, there first has to be an addict. If you fall into this role, you do not have to worry because there is help. Nonetheless, when you continue abusing different substances, you develop negative behaviors, especially towards your family. Such actions may include blaming others, lying, and being manipulative. Additionally, you may lose control over your moods, leading to anger and adapting avoidance habits. You may also experience other feelings, mainly when you have not used the substance you are addicted to. These feelings include anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia.
The Enabler
This is the family member or members who ‘enable’ your addiction by not doing anything to help you fight it. Such individuals may even defend you in public. Most of the time, they think they are protecting you and the family at large, but in a real sense, they are masking a more significant issue. It can be challenging for you to recover from the addiction in such a case. In other instances, an enabler may even be the one bringing you the substance you are addicted to. For example, they could be the ones sponsoring your drinking sprees or buying drugs for you. This is the most dangerous of your relative’s roles in your addiction recovery journey. It is recommendable to do all you can to avoid such individuals because they can bring you more troubles, mainly on your health.
The Scapegoat
This role mainly falls on the shoulders of the second-born child in your family. It comprises the individual being blamed for many family issues. The scapegoat feels burdened with providing a blame outlet for other family members. This means they are there to defend their family members while taking the blame to prevent a sibling or a parent from feeling resentful and angry. The action taken by the scapegoat later in life is determined mainly by their gender. When females get older, they may turn to promiscuous sex or run away. On the flip side, male scapegoats will sometimes become very violent and angry when they get older.
The Hero
Most heroes in many families are firstborn because a bigger percentage of them have an A personality. They do all they can to try and keep the family together, regardless of whether you are dealing with substance addiction or any other issue in the family. This role involves taking up the leadership position, but it may sometimes be challenging and cause the hero stress when they can no longer manage their anger or anxiety.
The Lost Child
The role of this family member is in the title. Such individuals tend to be less interested and involved in family matters like other people. Their character encompasses weird behaviors, such as isolation and the inability to maintain healthy relationships due to addiction in the family.
Recovering from addiction can take some time. Nonetheless, if you have your family’s support, you will find the journey smoother and more achievable. That is why you should understand what role each of them plays to ensure you are on the right path.
