Serious Misconceptions About Narcissism
As a society, we need to become more aware of high-conflict behavior and the damage it can do to people and to an organizations reputation. As with the recent trend of organizations setting limits on sexual harassment, we are slowly learning that there are many narcissistic HCPs who harass and abuse their targets in many different ways. Now is a good time to speak upor get away.
Stop Actions That Allow The Behavior To Continue
Are you working and paying some of the bills that the alcoholic would be paying if they hadn’t lost their job or missed time from work due to drinking? Or are you providing food and shelter for this person?
If so, you could be enabling. You are providing them with a “safety net” that allows them to lose or skip their job with no real consequences.
Finally The Most Horrifying Thing An Addict Does
Addicts die.
The most horrifying thing an addict can do to a loved one is to lose their battle with addiction. Every day, drugs cost people their lives.
In the last decade, theres been a 2x increase in the amount of drug overdose deaths in the U.S.
Total U.S. drug deaths: more than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids a 2 fold increase in a decade.
The biggest contributing factor to this increase is the opioid epidemic, which is claiming the lives of 115 people every day in the U.S. Addiction to opioids cost more people their lives in 2017 than were lost in the 20-year Vietnam War.
This issue has become a public health crisis.
Opioids affect the part of the brain that regulates breathing. High doses of these drugs can lead to respiratory depression and death. Unfortunately, even when used as prescribed, opioids can lead to tolerance meaning you may need to use more and more of the drug to get the same effects.
A well-meaning individual who takes too many pain pills in order to feel better can inadvertently put themselves at risk for overdose death. The same goes for an addict who needs to take more and more of the drug to get the same high or to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Combining opioids with other respiratory system depressants, such as alcohol, sedatives, or anti-anxiety medications can also increase the risk of overdose death.
Recommended Reading: How To Get An Addict To Seek Help
Supporting A Loved Ones Addiction Recovery
Theres no one-size-fits-all solution to overcoming an addiction to drugs, and its rarely a process thats quick or straightforward. While you can support your loved one and encourage treatment, you cant force them to change or control their decision-making. Letting your loved one assume responsibility for their behavior and choices is an important step on their road to sobriety.
Adjust your expectations. Everyone is different. Recovery for one person may mean total abstinence from drugs. For another, it could mean cutting back or staying mostly drug-free. Being too rigid in your expectations can lead to disappointment and a sense of failure, even if your loved one finds stability in their life again.
Encourage your loved one to seek help. While some people are able to quit drugs on their own, the more help and support a person has, the better their chances of success. Offer to sit with your loved one while they call a helpline or accompany them to a doctors appointment, counseling session, or peer support group meeting.
Help plan for triggers and cravings. Your loved one will need to find ways to cope with drug cravings and triggers. You can help distract them with other activities or encourage them to learn how to ride out the urge, but ultimately, they have to be responsible for their own sobriety.
Treatment options
Im Under A Lot Of Stress Its Okay To Kick Back With This Stuff And Relax
There are many ways you can relax and let go of stress without drugs or alcohol. Lies alcoholics tell, along with lies drug addicts tell, include excusing their behavior with stress, a single event, a memorial or anniversary, or anything to give themselves a reason for taking their substance.
If you find you cant relax and unwind except with drugs and alcohol, you have more problems than simple stress. Although substances such as alcohol can initially make you feel relaxed and sleepy, over time, the bounce-back effect from your neurotransmitters can make you feel even more uptight and wound up than before. Most drugs have a boomerang effect, causing even more stress as they wear off and the cravings for more begin.
Using drugs or alcohol as an excuse to unwind is a common lie addicts tell themselves. Learning new and healthier ways to relax is critical for recovery.
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Why Do Alcoholics Have To Blame Everyone And Everything But Themselves
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What An Enabler Does
When it comes down to it, an enabler is only driving their loved ones addiction further. Even though this isnt their goal, its the effect that comes from making excuses and letting things go unchecked. For instance, an enabler wouldnt be able to properly setup an intervention, even after admitting to the fact that they are an enabler, and doing everything in their power to right their wrongs. You would need a professional interventionist to help not just the addict, but to help the entire family/circle of friends to create the proper environment to help their loved one, even after the stages of detox and rehab. For more information on interventions and treatment in general, contact a treatment provider today.
- About
Jeffrey Juergens earned his Bachelors and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. Jeffreys desire to help others led him to focus on economic and social development and policy making. After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. Jeffreys mission is to educate and inform the public on addiction issues and help those in need of treatment find the best option for them.
Clinically Reviewed:
David Hampton
- About
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
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Lies Addicts Tell Themselves
Addicts lie. They lie to their bosses, their friends, their families, and most of all to themselves. Addicts lie to protect themselves from the painful truth that their drinking or drug abuse is no longer under their control. No one likes to admit theyve lost their willpower, but thats exactly what happens with addiction.
The number of addicts in the United States is on the rise. Today, there are an estimated 24.6 million people age 12 and over with an addiction problem, or roughly 9.4 percent of the population. Its likely that someone you know and love is a substance abuser and in need of treatment.
Talking to them about their problem, however, can be an exercise in futility. Denial, stonewalling and outright lies are part of an addicts way of refusing to acknowledge the truth: That they cant stop taking the addictive substance.
An addicts entire existence revolves around their next hit. They will do anything to avoid the feeling of withdrawal. To protect themselves from realizing the harm their actions are causing to themselves and to others, and to provide rationalization for their next hit, they convince themselves of the lies they repeat.
Tips For Freeing Yourself From Blame
Blame is often one of the most toxic and self-destructive thought patterns that can emerge. At Recovery Care Partners, we understand that addiction is just as much a mental hurdle as it is a physiological one. On the road to recovery, almost all former addicts struggle with blame and issues of identity. Freeing yourself from blame is an important concept to understandthat is, understand why it is a fruitless endeavor to spend your time questioning if addiction is your fault or if it isnt.
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How To Get Out Of The Blame Game
To conquer the disease of addiction, an important step is to ditch the blame. Resolve to get professional help. Take responsibility for your actions. You will not need to fight addiction alone. A counselor trained in addiction treatment can assist you in letting go of blame and accepting responsibility. Learn to accept yourself for who you are. Challenges, such as a traumatic past or behavioral health issues, may have occurred and may be a part of your life, but these do not define you. Admit to the past mistakes and realize that they are not weaknesses but learning experiences. Focus on self-improvement and healing. A key insight is that once you are truly ready to stop blaming others, you are ready to move on with life.
I Dont Drink In The Morning So Im Not An Alcoholic
Because one of the known symptoms of alcoholism is needing a wake-up drink, theres a myth that you arent an alcoholic unless you find yourself drinking in the morning. It doesnt matter what time you drink. An alcoholic cant stop drinking once they start, and they continue to drink even when drinking negatively affects their health, wellness, or well-being.
Drinking at night can be equally as destructive as drinking in the morning. Hiding alcohol, lying about how much you drink, and finding ways to drink when you know you shouldnt are all indications your alcohol consumption has spiraled into addiction. Time of day does not matter. Among the many lies alcoholics tell themselves, this one can keep them from seeking help if they continue to believe morning drinking is what distinguishes them from being a full-blown alcoholic.
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How To Deal With Someone Who Blames You For Everything
Last Updated on April 6, 2021 by Alexander Burgemeester
What do you do against someone who blames you for everything? Because its almost like I cant do anything right. No matter how hard I try, its never good enough. I just get told how stupid I am or how I should have done it differently. I feel so exhausted and resentful.
Does this mental script sound familiar in your relationship? Are you constantly being told that youre the problem, even if youre just doing your best? If so, you may be asking yourself, why do people blame others for their problems? Why is it never their fault but always yours?
There are many reasons why this happensblaming someone else for your problems is called narcissism, denial, and projection. Its also merely an intense form of self-absorption and selfishness. After all, its much easier to throw your problems onto someone else rather than reflect inwards.
How do you deal when youre on the receiving end of this awful cycle? Lets get into what you need to know.
How To Deal With Someone Who Blames You For Everything An Overview
My husband blames me for everything. I didnt get the car washed. I should have called around and gotten more quotes. I shouldnt have spent so much money grocery shopping. I dont know what to do about it anymore!
If your wife or husband blames you for everything, you need some actionable steps for dealing with this pain. Chances are, their behavior makes you feel like a bad person. It can trigger immense emotions of guilt, shame, or fear. Likewise, it goes without saying that this cycle can also trigger resentment and tension in the marriage.
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Dont Drink The Poison
As stated in the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful. From a scientific standpoint, addiction is the only disease out there that makes you think that you dont have it. Addiction takes over the part of your brain responsible for survival and tries to make you believe that its the solution to all of your problems. Addiction is able to make you believe that the best way to deal with your anger and resentments is to keep drinking or using drugs.
It has been said that holding onto resentments is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. We drink or use drugs as a way to punish those who have hurt us, but when we have clarity, were able to realize how irrational this is. The disease of addiction tries to justify our drinking and using by saying it will hurt others, but it hurts us more than anyone else. By continuing down this path, life only gets worse, and it can make you even more resentful towards people, places, and institutions. One way it does this is by deflecting blame on the rest of the world.
To Explain Why Something Happened
As humans, its our default to always look for a cause for something.
We like to have narratives that explain why things happened so that we can add these to our mental story of life.
Rather than turning the light on ourselves or looking at the bigger picture and context, we can explain things more quickly and easily by attributing them to others.
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Reclaim Your Life From Addiction With Tranquil Shores Rehab
Although these 20 lies addicts tell themselves and others may defer the inevitable, the truth is waiting for everyone. Someday, the addict who tells these lies realizes they cant hide from the truth anymore. Theres always a moment at which the truth becomes clear. When that happens, its time to seek recovery.
Tranquil Shores offers a caring place to begin your recovery. We provide an integrated approach to addiction treatment that has helped many recover from drug and alcohol addiction. We also offer dual-diagnosis treatment for people diagnosed with both addiction issues and mental health problems.
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Blaming Other People As A Habit
Blaming others for things going wrong can easily become a habit, and it is possible to twist logic to always be able to point the finger at others. This way of thinking can become so ingrained that the person does not even realise they are doing it. The individual just starts to believe that they are living in a world full of nasty people who are always causing trouble for him or her. This way of thinking can even continue after the person has managed to give up drinking, leading to dry drunk syndrome.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Over An Addiction
Healing Starts With Addiction Medicine
If someone in your life is wrestling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, helping them find effective treatment can be a worrying challenge. Gateway Foundation is here to help, with evidence-based addiction medicine and personalized treatment programs that have helped over a million people overcome their problems with substance abuse. We provide multiple levels of care, from residential treatment to outpatient treatment.
To find out more about our programs and services to help the addicted person in your life, give Gateway Foundation a call at 877.505.4673. You can also reach us through our online contact form with your questions about addiction and recovery.
Your Partner Wont Be Honest
Addicts deny the truth about their substance abuse problem to themselves and to everyone else. They also wont tell you the truth about where theyve been, what theyve been doing or who theyve been doing it with. They wont be honest about where your money is going, why the car got dinged up or why they were late getting home. Most disturbing of all, they will repeatedly lie about their intentions to get clean and sober. Drugs and alcohol are their priority. Theyll tell you what you want to hear to get you off their back.
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Coping With Anothers Alcoholism
The effects of alcoholism on families include stress, anxiety and depression. For help coping with negative emotions related to your loved ones drinking problems, consider attending Al-Anon or another 12-step program for friends and family members of alcoholics. These support groups allow you to interact with people in similar situations. You can also learn strategies to alleviate stress and manage strains on your mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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How To Recognize The Manipulation Of A Drug Addict
Anyone who has a close friend or relative that has struggled with a substance use disorder knows all too well about the manipulative ways of a person who is controlled by their addiction. These behaviors cause extreme heartache and pain and they even have the power to break up families and end marriages.
Amid a relationship that has been damaged by addiction, its not always easy to identify manipulative behaviors, let alone how to respond in a healthy way. However, if you can take a step back and peel back the filter from your eyes, you might just see that your loved one is manipulating you into fueling his or her addiction.
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