
The family Disease of Addiction
|
Issue |
Addict |
Family |
|
Powerlessness |
Over substance |
Over addict |
|
Obsessed |
Over substance |
Over addict |
|
Focused on |
Self |
Addict |
|
Obsession Compulsion |
Obtaining, using and concealing activities |
Surveillance Keeping addict from using |
|
Living in fear |
Being without substance |
Addict harm |
|
Isolation |
Use alone |
Suffer alone |
|
Boundaries |
No limits |
Intrusion into addicts life |
|
Denial |
Of chemical use and harm to others |
Of addicts problem and harm to self |
|
Perceptual origin of problems |
Externally |
Internally |
|
Blame |
Others |
Self |
|
Recall |
Oblivious |
Painful |
|
Behavior |
Defensively based |
Based on suspicion and fear |
|
Doesn’t have another relapse left |
Substance based Bottom, fear |
Addict based Bottom, fear |
|
Interactive experience |
Blunted and distorted |
Frustration , anger and fear |
|
Memories |
Can’t recall |
Painful to recall |
|
Lessons learned |
? |
? |
|
Trust |
Expect it |
Fear it |
|
Fear of addict death |
Sometimes |
Constant |
|
Benefit from 12 Step |
AA http://www.aa.org |
Alanon http://www.al-anon.org |
|
Power Struggle |
Lose |
Lose |
Exhaustion
No forward motion Repeating patterns disorganization Addict always wins
Addict holds power – doesn’t care about life, future, consequences
Family consumed with helping addict – ignores own needs