How to Fix Codependent Relationship in Addiction Recovery

How-to-Fix-Codependent-Relationship-in-Addiction-Recovery

Granted, it is difficult to watch your loved ones harm herself or himself by using alcohol or drugs. Even so, the addicted individual may unknowingly or accidentally take advantage of you. Those being taken advantage of are called codependents. And unless you find how to fix codependent relationships, you might be headed for a destructive and inherently dysfunctional relationship.

In your desire to please your partner, friend, family member, or loved one, you (the codependent) may facilitate the addiction rather than helping your loved one overcome it. In this case, both the codependency and addiction must be addressed. But before we delve into how to fix codependency, let’s define codependent relationships.

What Are Codependent Relationships?

Scientists say codependent relationships are a behavioral pattern where one person is a caregiver, and the other person takes advantage. One major sign is when your sense of purpose in life involves making big sacrifices to meet your partner’s or loved ones needs. Usually, one person will cater to the needs of the other to the extent of enabling their addictive habits.

Anyone can become codependent. Studies indicate that neglected or emotionally abused individuals are more likely to enter codependent relationships.

Signs of a Codependent Relationship

Knowing the warning signs is the first step towards determining how to fix codependent relationships. Look out for these signs that signify you might be in a codependent relationship: 

  • You find it hard to find satisfaction in your life outside of your partner or loved one
  • You always need the approval of your partner or loved one to have a sense of purpose
  • You stay with your partner or loved one irrespective of the unhealthy habits they exhibit
  • You support your partner or loved one at the expense of your physical, emotional, and mental health
  • You find yourself reacting to things rather than acting out of your own choice
  • You are unaware of your needs or always reluctant to express your desires even though you’re aware of them
  • A tendency to feel hurt when people don’t acknowledge your efforts
  • A feeling of guilt when asserting yourself
  • The need to control others
  • You don’t trust yourself or others
  • Fear of being rejected or alone
  • Lying, deceit, and anger

Are Codependency and Addiction Related?

Codependency and addiction are closely related, as codependency often appears in relationships where one partner is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Drug addicts or alcoholics often have different problems stemming from their addiction, which include:

 

  • Problems with money, work, and relationships
  • High-risk habits
  • The continuous need for emotional support.

As a result, the codependent partner goes out of his or her way to support the addict through all the ordeals. While a codependent partner may help the addict recover, the addictive behavior is unresolved, and the challenging life situations continue.

Codependency is not always connected with addiction, but for addicted individuals, there is usually a codependent. And, in most cases, the codependent exhibits addictive habits too. More frequently, though, one individual will be more addicted to a substance while the other will support them.

How to Fix Codependency in a Relationship

If you’re in a codependent relationship and looking for how to fix codependency, keep reading.

Codependency treatment is complicated since the codependent partner feels they are not causing any harm. In actuality, they see their actions as helping their spouse and do so to show their love. Hence it is essential to diagnose and manage codependency and addiction concurrently.

Treatment is given as a combination of couples therapy or family therapy and individual therapy, depending on the client’s needs. 

Treatment goals include knowing how codependent actions affect the relationship, improving communication, making relational changes, and behavioral changes via planning and accountability.

How to Seek Help for an Addiction

Codependent treatments work great if it is left to the experts. Addiction therapists understand codependency and can help you dig down to know the depth of addiction. In a recovery center, an addicted individual can receive the care they need. 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, peer support, group therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy are just a few of the treatment programs we offer.

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we help women find how to fix codependent relationships and addiction. Our goal is for women to live healthily and access long-term recovery treatments by offering a unique treatment center with professional staff and enhanced treatment options designed by women for women.

Reach out to us today to begin your journey to recovery.

Am I Becoming an Alcoholic? Signs to Watch Out For

Am-I-Becoming-an-Alcoholic?

Am I becoming an alcoholic?” How often do you ask yourself this question? Sometimes? One too many times? Maybe you only drink at night, or maybe you only drink wine and no liquor so — you can’t be an alcoholic, right?

Well, unfortunately this is not the case. Alcoholism can take several forms, and the stereotype portrayed on TV is not always applicable. So how can you tell if you are becoming an alcoholic?

What Is Considered Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, where someone has a compulsion to drink alcohol. It is slightly different from alcohol abuse or harmful drinking, which has to do with behavior patterns where someone drinks to extreme levels despite the adverse effects.

Alcoholism, on the other hand, is a form of alcohol abuse where an individual is unable to manage their drinking habit so that they feel they can’t function well without alcohol. Alcohol abuse can spiral out of control and may develop into alcoholism. 

When you drink excessively, your body gradually becomes dependent on alcohol. According to the National Institute of Health, about 17 million adults (18 and above) have some sort of drinking problem. 

Signs You Are an Alcoholic

Are you worried you may be an alcoholic? The following is a list of common signs of alcoholism or a developing alcohol dependence (please note this isn’t a comprehensive list): 

  • Drinking in secrecy or hiding how much you drink
  • Alcohol cravings
  • Feeling the need to drink in the morning
  • Unable to control alcohol consumption
  • Putting alcohol over personal responsibilities and relationships
  • Buying excessive amounts of alcohol regardless of the financial implications
  • Continue to drink despite health problems
  • Trying to cut back on drinking but finding it difficult
  • Quitting other activities to drink
  • Unable to control your behavior after drinking
  • Having school troubles, job troubles, relationship problems due to alcohol
  • Getting into harmful situations after drinking alcohol, like drunk driving, unsafe sex, swimming, and fighting.
  • Continually increasing the usual quantity of alcohol you take to get the desired effect
  • Withdrawal symptoms when you aren’t drinking, like nausea, hallucination, sweating, restlessness, depression, or insomnia.

 

Getting Treatment for Alcoholism

If you or someone you love is addicted to alcohol, and you think it’s affecting their lives, it is crucial to seek professional help. If you are unsure you have a drinking problem or a physical dependence, always consult your physician for more information. 

Treatment for alcoholism can vary, the most common treatments being: 

  • Detoxification

Detoxification is for people with severe alcohol addiction; this is a crucial first step towards recovery. The aim is to quit drinking and allow your body time to get the alcohol out of your system safely. Alcohol withdrawal can cause serious health complications so please never try to detox alone. 

  • Psychotherapy or Counseling

Psychotherapy or counseling address emotional problems causing you to drink. These types of therapy are incorporated in inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment.  Also, a therapist will help you deal with behavior and triggers that make you want to drink.

  • Peer Led Support Groups

There are also support groups and programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, and Narcotics Anonymous to help people through their recovery path. These support groups are often peer led, are free to join, and are available multiple times throughout the day, 7 days a week. Support groups are offered during addiction treatment and can easily be continued after treatment. 

Anchored Tides Recovery Is Here for You

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, then the answer to this question, “am I becoming an alcoholic?” is possibly yes. Identifying and accepting an alcohol problem is the first step to recovery from addiction. 

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we help women living with alcohol addiction problems and mental health issues. Our goal is for women to live healthily and access long-term recovery treatments by offering a unique treatment center with professional staff and enhanced treatment options designed by women for women.

Reach out to us today to begin your journey to recovery! 

What Is Disordered Eating?

What-Is-Disordered-Eating

According to studies, about 20% of the population demonstrate disordered eating behaviors. 

What is disordered eating? It is a term that describes a broad range of conditions characterized by irregular eating and unhealthy eating patterns. Many people develop a bad relationship with food, either to lose weight or for health promotion. But most times, it leads to severe complications.

Not all disordered eating is easy to diagnose. Disorders like bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa have specific symptoms that make them easy to diagnose. However, many people suffer from subtle disordered eating with symptoms that do not meet the criteria of an eating disorder.

Some examples of disordered eating include fasting or chronic restrained eating, binge eating, restrictive dieting, skipping meals, diet pills, emotional eating, self-induced vomiting, supplements misuse, secret food concocting, and more. 

Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorder

While disordered eating describes unhealthy eating habits that can cause harm, an eating disorder is a diagnosis. American Psychological Association refers to eating disorders as life-threatening mental illnesses where the patient exhibits an abnormal relationship with food.

It is possible to have disordered eating behaviors that do not fit the eating disorder diagnosis. Usually, disordered eating behaviors are the pointer to developing an eating disorder. Thus, people with disordered eating may be at risk of developing eating disorders.

Connection Between Addiction and Eating Disorders

The American Society of Addiction Medicine now holds a definition for addiction that includes substance abuse and eating disorders. Like other forms of addiction, eating disorders involve compulsive behaviors that have effects on the brain.

In many cases, people who suffer from eating disorders are also abusing drugs or alcohol. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), women who have eating or substance disorder are four times likely to develop the other condition. 

Another connection is how people who suffer from both eating disorders and addiction use one to cope with the other.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Physical

  • Dramatic weight loss or gain
  • Stomach pains, purging, and dizziness
  • Irregular bowel movements
  • Menstrual irregularity
  • Skin and hair change
  • Dental problems

Behavioral

  • Changes in food intake
  • Preoccupied with weight and food
  • Obsession with body image and shape
  • Practicing food restriction, eating in secret, unable to know when you’re full

Mental

People with disordered eating are likely to develop;

  • Anxiety disorder
  • Depression
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Personality Disorders

Getting Help With Disordered Eating and Addiction

Once an addiction is diagnosed, the right thing is to start treatment immediately by seeing a mental health professional.

For a sustained recovery, it is best to treat addiction and eating disorders together. Usually, treatment would depend on the symptoms you exhibit and could be a combination of therapy, nutrition education, and medications.

Since eating disorders are linked to the relationship we have with our bodies, psychotherapy is an important treatment method to help address this relationship and embrace our body image. 

A nutritionist would recommend a healthy food and exercise approach to maintain your health and return to a healthy weight.

Hospitalization may be necessary in cases where disorders are linked to severe mental and physical health problems.

If you or your loved one is struggling with an addiction and eating disorder, know that there isn’t much standing between you and recovery. 

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we offer different addiction treatment services to help women with their recovery. A lot of research and studies have shown that eating disorders are more prevalent in women and girls. We are dedicated to helping women live a better life by offering unique and successful addiction treatment programs.

Asides from therapeutic services, our facility offers a relaxing environment, professional staff, support groups, and individualized treatment for a long term recovery.

Reach out to us today to begin your journey to wellness!