The repercussions of addiction aren’t limited to the individual.

The repercussions of addiction aren’t limited to the individual. Their loved ones may also suffer as they watch someone they care about struggle with this disease. Witnessing your loved one battling addiction is heartbreaking. Oftentimes, these are people they share a home with. Living with an addict can cause a rollercoaster of emotions. You love that person, but you also may be afraid of them. Drug and alcohol abuse can cause people to act out in ways they normally wouldn’t. As this person is experiencing the repercussions of this disease, you may suffer as well. As a drug rehab center in Gilman, we know it can be complicated to live with someone with a substance abuse disorder. Although we encourage addicts to immediately begin their recovery, we’re also here to offer some tips for living with an addict that may benefit their loved ones.

How to Survive Living with An Addict

Regardless of how much you care about the person, living with a drug addict can be concerning. Oftentimes, these individuals are married or have children they don’t want to separate from. If you can’t or don’t want to move away, learning how to live with an addict is imperative. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Create Boundaries for Safety

While living with an addict, it’s important to set boundaries to ensure your safety and the safety of your family. Even if it’s your spouse or child, the individual needs to know that if they do anything that puts others at risk, they may have to temporarily leave. Setting boundaries can be difficult, but it’s important to keep everyone else, including yourself, safe.

Have an Emergency Plan Set in Place

Addiction can cause a person to act out in dangerous or erratic ways. You don’t have control over the individual or how their addiction will affect them. That’s why you should have an emergency plan set in place for moments where they may act out and potentially hurt someone. Set up a plan with anyone else you’re living with to make sure each person knows what to do in these situations.

Manage the Finances

A great way to limit the individual’s substance abuse and maintain the household is by controlling the finances. Because addiction is a disease that can take over a person’s logic, they will spend any money they have to get their next fix. The best way to ensure you make all your household payments and the person isn’t spending money on their addiction is by responsibly managing the finances.

Encourage Treatment

When living with an addict, it’s important to encourage them to receive addiction treatment. This doesn’t mean you should pressure or push them into recovery. That being said, it’s important to try your best to remind them that there are other options. At Banyan Heartland, our patients normally begin their recovery journey with a medically-monitored detox in Illinois, where their withdrawal symptoms are safely managed. Afterward, they can transition into the next phase of their treatment with a clean slate.

Don’t Neglect Self-Care

Living with an addict while trying to fulfill your other responsibilities can be stressful. In the midst of trying to care for them, you may forget to care for yourself. To avoid burning yourself out, have a self-care routine set in place. It’s important to set aside time to relax and decompress.

At Banyan Treatment Centers Heartland, we know that living with an addict can be tough. There are lots of situations that may occur that could put the person or someone else in danger. The best thing you can do for the individual and yourself is to help them begin their journey to recovery. At our Illinois rehab center, we offer different levels of care designed to treat a variety of substance abuse disorders.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, our staff at Banyan can help. Call us now at 888-280-4763 to find out more about our addiction treatment programs.