Codependency and Addiction Go Hand-in-Hand

It is important to understand that addiction is a family disease. The entire family unit is negatively impacted when someone is in the grips of a substance use disorder. It may be difficult to understand at first, but family members can become dysfunctional in the process of trying to help the addicted person in their life – without even realizing it.

If you have an addicted love one in the family, you may feel as if your life is completely out of control. It doesn’t matter whether the addicted person is your spouse, one of your children, your parent, or a close relative – enmeshment is very common among family members and addicted people.

Does it feel as if your life is in utter chaos because of addiction – even though you don’t have a problem with drugs and alcohol? If so, you may be completely engulfed in a codependent relationship. Let’s discuss what this means and talk about how you can get help.

Do You Love Someone With a Substance Use Disorder?

There is a War on Drugs in America. If you have an addicted loved one in your life, it can feel like a war on drugs has been waged in your own family. Addiction has a way of destroying relationships and leaving casualties in the wake of its destructive path.

Even the strongest families are rendered powerless to fight against the devastating effects of this illness – but not before exhausting every resource in their arsenal in a valiant attempt to gain victory over the situation.

Typically motivated by desperation, friends and loved ones can unknowingly become codependent with the addicted person in their life. They have a sincere desire to help, but this “help” almost always ends up making the situation worse. Boundary lines become blurred and chaos ensues. When this happens, codependency rears its ugly head.

What is Codependency?

SO, what is codependency anyway?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines codependency as “a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (such as an addiction to alcohol or heroin).”

The word “codependency” is often used interchangeably with the word “enabling.” Enabling is what happens when you provide someone with the means or opportunity to continue to abuse drugs or alcohol. This keeps them stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction.

Although codependent or enabling behavior is almost always motivated by good and sincere intentions, it always results in more substance use. If you really want to help your loved one, you need to do whatever it takes to help them get sober – NOT help them facilitate ongoing addictive behavior.

A Few Examples of Enabling Behavior

Here are just a few of many examples that demonstrate codependency in action:

Bailing someone out of jail for a drug-related offense or DWI
Calling in sick for your spouse when they have a hangover
Subjecting yourself to violence or abuse
Making excuses for unacceptable behavior to “save face” with friends or family
Lying on behalf of someone who is addicted
Blaming other situations or people for the addicted person’s substance use
Allowing your grown children to live with you rent free knowing they are spending their money on drugs or alcohol
Driving someone to buy illegal drugs (or letting them borrow your car)
Spending your own money on drugs or alcohol for an addicted person
Giving your prescription medications to an addicted person so they won’t get dope sick
Paying bills for an addicted person because they have spent all of their money on drugs or alcohol
Overlooking, minimizing, or denying the severity of the addiction
Prioritizing the needs of the addicted person over your own
Handling one crisis after the other caused by the addicted person
Not forcing the addicted person to take personal responsibility
Changing or canceling plans to accommodate the addicted person’s demands
Saying yes when you really want to say no because you want to avoid conflict

These are just a few of the most common examples of enabling behavior. Do any of these seem familiar? If so, you are probably involved in a codependent relationship with an addicted person.

Empower Recovery, Not Addiction

We know that you love and care for the addicted person in your life. It can be confusing – and downright maddening – when someone close to you is destroying their life with drugs or alcohol. You desperately want to help and make the situation all better. You want them to be okay and you have become willing to do just about everything in your power to make that happen.

Here’s the thing. You can easily make the mistake of hurting an addicted person rather than helping them. Your heart may be in the right place, but even the best intentions can enable someone to continue abusing drugs or alcohol. There is a fine line between helping and hurting.

You want to empower someone’s recovery – NOT their addiction. As long as you are engaged in behaviors that give someone else permission to get high or drunk, you are empowering their addiction. When you make the decision to stop participating in codependency, you pave the way for recovery.

Al-Anon is a Great Resource for Friends and Family Members

Once you have been involved in a cycle of codependency with an addicted loved one, it can be quite difficult to break it. Yes, it will be challenging – but it is possible. And, letting go of your enabling behaviors is the best thing you can do for yourself and the person you care about.

We recommend the Al-Anon program to those who believe they have become codependent with an addicted person. This 12-Step fellowship offers hope and healing to family members and friends who want to find freedom from codependency.

At Al-Anon, you will be equipped with the necessary tools to establish healthy boundaries and behaviors in your own life. This will lead to a great sense of personal freedom. And, of course, it will greatly increase the likelihood that the person you care about will get into recovery – and we know this is your ultimate goal.