Terms such as alcoholic, addict, and codependent are frequently used in everyday language, but they may be terms too harsh in front of people who fail to accept the situation in which they find themselves. These terms become truly accepted when the individual overcomes the denial stage and actively engages in recovery.
Given how common alcohol use is, and how often drug use is starting to be, it is important that the family, together with psychologists, can identify whether the alcohol/drug user is putting their life at risk, already causing problems, or needs specialized treatments.
In the situation where the family member, partner, or close person is co-dependent, the level of ability to identify the problems is drastically reduced, leading to the repetition of behaviors in a vicious circle in which the addict does not make progress towards acceptance and the co-dependent continues with the series of behaviors that maintain an unhappy status quo.
Addiction is defined by the American Medical Association as a complex disease, often chronic in nature, that affects the functioning of the brain and body. It also causes serious damage to families, relationships, school or work performance. The most common symptoms of addiction are severe loss of control, continued use despite serious consequences, and failed attempts to quit. Addiction can be effectively prevented, treated, and managed by healthcare professionals in combination with support from family or loved ones.
Like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental, and biological factors. Genetic risk factors account for about half the likelihood that an individual will develop addiction.
Addiction involves changes in the functioning of the brain and body. These changes may be caused by the use of hazardous substances or may be pre-existing.
The consequences of untreated addiction often include other physical and mental health disorders that require medical attention. If left untreated over time, addiction becomes more severe and can be life-threatening.
Some people believe that addiction cannot be a disease because it is caused by the individual’s choice to use drugs or alcohol. While the first use may be by choice, once the brain has been damaged, most experts believe that the person loses control of their behavior.
Many people end up consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol and drugs, but some people can develop a severe addiction. Alcohol and drug use can affect everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or economic status.
Codependency is a learned behavior that can be passed down from one generation to the next. It is an emotional and behavioral condition that affects the individual’s ability to have a healthy relationship based on mutual satisfaction. It is also known as “relationship addiction” because codependent people often form or maintain one-sided, emotionally destructive, and/or abusive relationships.
The condition was identified through studies of interpersonal relationships in alcoholic families. Codependent behavior is learned by watching and imitating other family members who display this type of behavior.
Codependency often affects the spouse, child, partner, parent, sibling, or friends of a person affected by alcohol or drug addiction. Codependency characterizes the dysfunctional and one-sided relationship in which one partner is dependent on the other to satisfy their needs for validation, self-worth, and self-esteem, which allows the other to maintain addictive behavior that lacks responsibility or personal achievement. The article “Healthy approach in communication between addict and co-dependent” offers more details about the behaviors of the co-dependent and the roles he assumes.
Like alcohol or drug addiction, co-dependency can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or economic status.
Signs of addiction (especially alcohol):
- Drinking too much alcohol, too often
- Consuming alcohol compulsively, in a short time
- Memory loss after consumption
- Hiding bottles, evidence, consuming secretly
- Behavioral changes
- Consuming alone
- Late for work, meetings, responsibilities
Signs of codependency:
- Giving up self in the process of helping the other
- Not knowing what one feels or wants
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty communicating true feelings, beliefs, and needs
- Experiencing anxiety, fear, and other difficult emotions
- Denies co-dependence and need for help
- Deny dependence on the other
