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