Addiction and the family system

 The Family System: Anxiety and Addiction 

Karissa Lemire, September 25, 2020

https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/role-family-addiction-recovery/

The above link is provided by the Addiction Center which helps connect those in need of services with those providing services. The Addiction Center is an informational website as well which addresses many aspects of addiction including explaining how the family becomes intertwined with substance use and addictive behaviors. Coping with a family member’s addictive behaviors can be a challenge. Addictive behaviors often dismantle family dynamics through broken trust and communication with one-another (Murray, 2020). To cope with dysfunction some family members assume “roles” or behave in specific responsive ways. These roles are outlined by Krystina Murray (2020) on the Addiction Center’s webpage and are as follows:

The Hero      The Mascot The Lost Child

The Scapegoat & The Enabler/Rescuer

Each role serves in a way that expresses how the family members are impacted by their loved one’s addictive behaviors and can be found in the family system of those whose loved one suffers from substances such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. The hero acts as the model person of the family, working towards achievements and overcompensating for the shameful acts of the addict. The mascot offers humor to deflect pain and try to help others feel better about the situation. The lost child often suppresses emotions and works towards not disrupting the family. The scapegoat is someone who may try to take attention away from the addicted loved one by causing distractions and new issues for the family to deal with. The enabler is someone who has a difficult time holding the struggling loved one accountable for their actions. They try to save the addict from the negative consequences of addiction (Murray, 2020). For those suffering from anxiety, panic disorders, or other mental conditions, having family members respond to addiction in the ways listed above can be especially challenging towards recovery. 

Those with anxiety often find themselves self-medicating or abusing their prescribed medications. Benzodiazepine addiction can be a dangerous substance to stop taking once addicted and withdrawal can cause even more emotional issues such as panic attacks, depression, hypersensitivity, and psychotic reactions (Loverde, 2017). Family members who wish to support their loved ones struggling with benzo addiction can help by first educating themselves on the signs of abuse and addiction to these medications. If it is already known that a loved one struggles with anxiety or a similar condition and is being treated for this condition pay close attention to their medication-taking habits. This can help in detecting addiction early on. Risk factors that influence benzo addiction include a history of drug and alcohol use, ease of obtaining benzos, addictive personality, social environment, and how much support one does receive from their loved ones (Murray, 2019). Understanding risk factors is just one-way family can help an addict with their issues, identifying the issue is simply the first step. Once the addiction is recognized it must also be addressed by those closest to the individual. Family involvement in recovery is very important in the success of the individual. Many peer and family support groups can help in repairing the dysfunction of the family unit because of addiction. Nar-anon, for example, offers a 12-step program for family and friends of addicts which can offer support, guidance, and information on resources needed to help all involved in addiction. Find meetings, contact information, and more here:

https://www.nar-anon.org/

Thank you for reading this week’s blog entry. Please take a moment to explore addictive behaviors that may occur within your own family. How do you respond to these behaviors? Can you identify any of the roles mentioned above within your family unit? Let’s discuss it! 

References:

Loverde, M. (2017). Xanax, anxiety, and addiction: Help for benzo addiction and panic disorders [Blog]. Retrieved from https://family-intervention.com/blog/xanax-anxiety-addiction-help-benzo-addiction-panic-disorders/

Murray, K. (2020). The Role of Family in Addiction Recovery - Addiction Center. Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/role-family-addiction-recovery/

Murray, K. (2019). Who Benzodiazepines Affect: The Dangers of Benzos - Rehab Spot. Retrieved from https://www.rehabspot.com/benzodiazepines/who-addiction-affects/

Nar-Anon Family Groups. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.nar-anon.org/


Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 27, 2020 at 12:50 PM

    I always enjoy that you end your posts with reflection questions to get readers to really interact with your blog. I picture different roles that my family plays as it pertains to my brother's addiction to alcohol. If I had to pick, I would most closely align with the hero, although I am not trying to make up for the shameful acts. I would say that my mother is an enabler in the fact that she doesn't hold him accountable. It's been years battling with the addiction and many measures have been taken. He is now 28 years old, not the 14 year old kid that ran away from home when the problems started. I find it difficult having to remind my mother of the truth, that addiction grabs hold and takes him when he's on his good days, and that he has to be the one willing to admit and make the change.

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