I’m in Love With An Addict – 5 Tips To Navigate Your Relationship

February 8, 2022 - Love and Relationships - 0 Comments

A lot of people have been affected by addiction in some way. Whether you have a friend or family member struggling with addiction, or if addiction has touched your own life in some way, you know that it’s a difficult thing to deal with.

And if you’re in love with someone who struggles with addiction, things can be even more complicated.

Navigating a relationship with someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can be tough, but there are things you can do to make it work.

Here are five tips to help you navigate your relationship with an addict.

Encourage Your Loved One’s Recovery

Have you ever felt hesitant about broaching the topic of recovery to your loved one? Are you afraid that talking about going to rehab will just cause tension? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, a lot of people feel this way.

But it’s important to know that just letting the addiction continue will not help your partner, yourself, and your relationship moving forward. By keeping quiet about this problem, you might be dodging conflict for now, however, you’re just avoiding the inevitable. Sooner or later, the cracks caused by addiction will surface. In the meantime, you both continue to suffer as a result of the addiction.

But if you talk about recovery and let your boyfriend or girlfriend know that going to rehab is something you think will help them, you could be opening up a whole new world for them. By encouraging treatment and recognizing the issue, you’ll be taking a positive step towards change.

If you are not sure how to go about this conversation, consulting with an intervention specialist could be helpful. An intervention specialist can help guide you through the process of getting your loved one to go to rehab.

Be Supportive Without Being an Enabler

One of the primary dilemmas for people in love with an addict is how to be supportive of their loved one without enabling them to continue with their addiction. In reality, there is a thin line between being supportive and being an enabler. You do not want to abandon your loved one but at the same time, you also don’t want to keep covering up their problems.

So how can you support your loved one without enabling them? One way is to always ask yourself whether what you are doing for them is helping them towards their addiction recovery.

For example, your loved one is asking you to drive them somewhere. Where are they going? Are they going to a job interview or perhaps attending an AA meeting? In these instances, you can lend your support. On the other hand, if they ask you to pick them up after a drunk night at the club or to go to the store to buy some booze, then it’s time to say no. By saying no on occasion, you’re sending a subtle message that says “I’m here for you, but I need boundaries as well.”

Be Cautious About Falling Into the Same Addiction Trap

When you’re in love with an addict, you also have to be cautious about the danger of falling into the same addiction trap. It’s easy to get hooked on drugs or alcohol when you’re in love with an addict because they could make you feel like everything is okay.

If you’re always together, it’s not hard to adopt the same habits. And eventually, you could find yourself making the same mistake and become an addict yourself. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind the importance of staying sober and healthy especially when you’re in love with an addict. It can be hard to find this balance at times, especially when you want to help your partner overcome their addiction.

Prioritize Yourself First

When you love someone, it’s easy to get caught up in their problems and forget about yourself. But you shouldn’t let this happen. It’s important to take care of yourself first, otherwise, it will be impossible for you to support your loved one as they recover from their addiction.

So look after yourself first and foremost. You can be supportive of your partner and their recovery but make sure that you are also in a good place when it comes to your physical and mental health.

Know When To Walk Away

When you’re in love with an addict, it can be difficult to let go. They are not just your partner or someone that you care about, they also depend on you for support. But this is where things can get complicated because if you are putting all of your energy into supporting them, chances are your relationship will suffer as a result.

If your partner is committed to recovery, this can be a major reason to stay. However, if your partner is not committed to recovery and staying with them is not healthy for you, then perhaps it’s time for you to reflect on whether it’s time to let go.

A lot of times, people feel guilty for letting go especially if the relationship is serious or has been going on for a long time. But you have to understand that it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person just because you are letting go. Putting yourself first and detaching with love is also very important.