Family Violence And Addiction
Some of the damage from drug and alcohol addiction gets focused directly on the person using the substances. Unfortunately, people living around a person with an addiction can suffer just as much or more. Family violence is a damaging and dangerous result of drug addiction for some people.
Violence Easily Dismissed By The Drug User
Drug addicts and alcoholics are already so accustomed to deflecting personal responsibility because of the way addiction affects their thinking and judgment. Their addiction thinking creates an alternate reality in their mind. Nearly anything they do in the name of their addiction is justified or easily excused. Money troubles, flaking out on promises, putting themselves in danger – it’s all under control and nobody else’s business.
The same rules apply when a drug addict or alcoholic becomes violent. They lash out, put someone in their place, make their position of control very clear, or show their dislike for something in a powerful destructive way – but because the addiction excuses it, nothing seems wrong with these actions.
Everyone In Family Affected By Violent Addict or Alcoholic
Children, spouses, significant others, even adult siblings or parents can face the brunt of an addict’s violent nature. The addict desperately needs a sense of being in control or powerful. This is a very normal human need and can be done in many different healthy ways. But since an addict’s mind is tuned straight into their emotions and skewed “addiction logic”, violence is the natural outcome of overpowered emotions and low self control.
It’s a scale tipped way out of balance.
In essence, the violence within an addiction is an attempt to correct the imbalance. But since the addict is poorly equipped to deal with themselves and others, their attempts to make things better often make things worse. They strike out against people they really need in their life so they can get sober and recover.
Violence Often Passed Through Generations
In many cases, family violence is displayed from generation to generation. This can certainly happen with or without an addiction, but addictions add another level of complexity and distance from personal responsibility. The addict may be completely out of it most of the time they commit their violent acts, having few recollections of what they did. This can make it very hard for them to rectify things between themselves and the family members they hurt. They may strongly minimize their marital arguments, thinking they just yelled at their spouse a few times.
In reality, they may have made serious physical threats and hit, kicked, or pushed their family members around. Kids may be injured, threatened, or simply scared to death at what they see. Managing an addiction may not completely end a person’s violence toward others, but it is a vital step in the process of positive change.
Family Violence Dangerous For All
Family violence is a serious consequence of drug and alcohol addiction. People don’t want to call attention to it because they fear things getting worse if they do. If you are a family member of a violent drug addict or alcoholic, do everything you can to keep yourself safe. Hopefully, your loved one will realize that drug treatment is the only way to get their family life back.
