Taking the time to prioritize self-care is an essential part of maintaining a healthy balance while loving an addict. That said, resisting the allure of enabling behaviors in the face of addiction is a formidable challenge. However, it’s crucial to recognize your own limitations and understand that the journey to recovery ultimately lies in their hands.

  • YOU MUST KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WILLING TO TOLERATE AND WHAT YOU RECOGNIZE AS UNWORKABLE CONSISTENT ABUSE.
  • The first goal is to understand addiction and its potential effects on your household and relationships.
  • An addict is naturally attracted to a codependent or co-addict.
  • For many people, drug addiction is enough to end a relationship.

When loving an addict, it’s crucial to prioritize your own self-care. The stress and emotional toll of the relationship can take a significant toll on your well-being. By taking care of yourself, you become better equipped to support your partner on their journey. However, it’s vital to strike a balance between compassion and enabling destructive behavior. Encourage your partner to seek help, whether it’s through therapy, support groups, or rehabilitation programs.

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It’s natural to feel out of control when you’re in love with an addict or trying to learn to love an addict in the right ways. You may be looking for ways how to help a loved one with drug addiction, and it’s difficult, to say the least. It becomes particularly difficult when you’re trying to learn how https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-to-do-if-the-person-you-love-is-an-addict/ to avoid enabling an addict when you love them or are in love with them. I really appreciate this article, it has just focussed my mind, and energies on myself and given me confidence in my decision to no longer deal with a new partner in my life whom has been using crack, mostly behind my back.

A sense of duty pulls at your heartstrings, urging you to stay by their side, to be the unwavering source of support they need. You yearn for their transformation, envisioning a life free from the clutches of substances, but nothing you do or say makes a difference. You believe in their inherent goodness and hold onto the memories of who they were before addiction took hold. You still see glimpses of their true selves, the qualities that make them unique and lovable, but addiction’s grip tightens, obscuring their potential. Asking a friend for help in some small aspect of your care is often a comfortable first step. Caring for yourself and your needs has been on the back burner for years, and this needs to change.

The Ambiguous Loss of Loving an Addict and Letting Them Go

They drink and use because they have a disease and an addiction. They deny this reality and rationalize or blame their drug use on anything or anyone else. A loved one’s addiction can cause painful trauma and take a mental toll on the family. If you need to talk, we can help you find your way back to yourself. Contact FHE Health today to speak to one of our compassionate counselors. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can take its toll on your own mental health as you set aside your own needs in service of theirs.

loving an addict