Five Lies We Tell Ourselves About Their Addiction
It is painfully difficult to admit the truth about our loved one’s addiction, to ourselves or anyone else, and we find ourselves making excuses for them that are simply lies. It is so much easier to convince ourselves that nothing is wrong.
You are not alone with this situation. Read on, and you will probably see yourself in similar situations with your loved one.
1. He is under so much stress from his health problems. That’s why he takes so many pills.
I told myself he would cut back when he is feeling better, that he has no quality of life right now. What else is he going to do when he is hurting all of the time? It’s the only relief he gets from the pain.
We make all sorts of excuses rather than face the harsh reality of the situation, that our loved one is slowly killing themselves with their addiction.
2. She can’t be an addict, because she can go for days without taking more medicine than she’s supposed to.
If she was really an addict she would be popping those pills every day, all day long. She can go without the extra medication when she wants to, so she can’t have an addiction. She just takes more of it when she can’t stand the pain anymore.
We don’t want to see how badly this affects our loved one’s health and all their relationships, so we keep telling ourselves that it’s going to be okay. We make excuses for them rather than admit to ourselves that they have an addiction on top of all of their other problems.
3. He is not as bad as my cousin, Jean. She doesn’t have any medical problems, and she takes more pills than he does.
The whole family can tell that Jean is an addict, but no one questions his need for medication. They know he is sick and in pain, but Jean is just doing it to get high.
While no two addicts are the same, it doesn’t mean one is worse than the other. Addiction comes in many forms, and you can always someone else who is worse if you look hard enough.
4. He is able to drive and get to all of his appointments on time despite how many drinks he takes.
He has never gotten into an accident or was unable to hold an intelligent conversation, so I told myself he was alright. If he was an alcoholic, he wouldn’t be able to do that.
The reality is there are many people who are functional alcoholics or addicts. Their bodies have become so adjusted to the alcohol and/or drugs that they are able to function relatively normally. But that doesn’t mean they are not an alcoholic or drug addict.
5. She doesn’t take any medication that is not prescribed for her. It’s not like she is buying pills off the street.
If she was an addict she would definitely be taking other narcotics or drugs, not just the ones from the doctor.
The truth is if someone is abusing their medication, it doesn’t matter that it was prescribed by their doctor. Taking more pills than you should on a regular basis is a sign of addiction.
What To Do?
On some level, we know when we are lying to ourselves about our loved ones addiction. What we sometimes don’t realize is that our denial can help set the stage for an eventual overdose or some other tragedy.
Stop lying to yourself before it’s too late, and talk to a substance abuse counselor today to learn how you can help your loved one.
If you or your loved one is currently experiencing a problem with addiction to drugs or alcohol, don’t wait until it’s too late. Please Contact Beginnings Treatment Centers now to speak with one of our experienced intake advisors. There is no obligation or cost for the initial consultation, and quick action might save your life or that of your loved one.
