Know An Addict? Lies You Often Tell Yourself About Them
If you have a loved one that has been battling addiction, then the following statements probably sound familiar to you.
- It is just a phase that he or she is going through.
- It is not his or her fault that he or she got fired.
- All youngsters go out, party, and have fun.
- He or she will snap out of it…eventually.
- He or she just needs some new friends.
- He or she has been under a lot of pressure and simply needs to drink in order to unwind a bit.
If you have told yourself even just one of the aforementioned statements (or some variation of them), then chances are that you are failing to face the truth regarding your loved one’s addiction.
Lying About His or Her Addiction
If you are simply unable or unwilling to come face-to-face with the truth regarding the addiction of your loved one, then there is a good chance that you are actually also enabling his or her addiction by assisting him or her in covering up their alcohol or drug abuse.
Do some of these things sound familiar?
- You have explained the absence of your wife or husband by saying that he or she is ill.
- You have covered up for your adult daughter or son when he or she crashed his or her car.
- You have lied to your own family doctor in order to gain pain medication so that you could share them with your loved one so that he or she doesn’t have to buy more illicit drugs—such as heroin or cocaine—on the street.
The issue here is that the need for help is impossible to recognize when all parties involved are hiding the truth. Sure, it makes you feel good and better in the moment, but the situation is only getting worse when you do these things for your loved one.
Signs to Help You Spot an Addict
While you may actually believe the lies that you are currently telling yourself, it is important that you are able to recognize the signs of an addict. Are you able to notice the following signs and symptoms of an addiction?
- Blood shot eyes or pupils that appear smaller or bugger than normal
- Neglected appearance
- Nodding off at inappropriate times
- Appearing drugged or spaced out
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Sudden mood swings
- Secretive behavior
- Sudden change in friends
- Unexplained financial trouble
- Drug paraphernalia
- Legal trouble
If you have noticed these signs, you need to get serious about what is going on with your loved one. Luckily, addiction is something that is 100 percent treatable and manageable.
Addiction Treatment at Shadow Mountain Recovery
While things are getting better, there is a significant amount of stigma and shame that surrounds addiction. This is why there are so many individuals out there that are unwilling to admit that they have a problem and get the help that they need and deserve.
At Shadow Mountain Recovery, individuals are not judged; they are simply given the help that they need in order to rebuild their lives. We have a professional team of experts who work together to fight the mental and physical aspects of addiction. Contact us today to learn more about our alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs.
