Addiction and the Emotional Cost on the Family

addiction family support opioid use disorder Jul 07, 2022

"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."

― Henry David Thoreau

Addiction is complicated. It affects everyone in the family and can affect them for the rest of their lives. These effects are different for every person and every family. The family members can experience abandonment, anxiety, fear, anger, concern, embarrassment, or guilt. Thus, they may wish to ignore or cut ties with the person involved in substance abuse.

Keisha and her husband, John, have seen firsthand the impact of addiction on the family. Keisha's older son, also named John, has been struggling with opioid addiction since he was 18 when he first started experimenting with drugs while hanging around peers that he sensed may negatively influence his son.

At 23, John still struggles with opioid addiction, and the family has become fragmented and emotionally unstable because of John's behaviors. The thought of his illicit activities creates fears because it could potentially put the family in jeopardy legally. Keisha's family has been dealing with high levels of stress which culminate from a lack of sleep and worry when John is out and about, in addition to the fear that his two younger siblings could also be influenced by substance use because of John's behaviors.

The entire family is stressed, overwhelmed, and at a loss of what to do for John as much of their efforts to help him have failed, and they feel they have no other options except to deal with the continued stress and anxiety. Keisha hopes that one day John might get help.

Keisha's story is a common narrative that plays out everywhere. They feel helpless and do not know what to do. Treatment will only come to the individual ready for it, so a practical application would be to take care of the family first, allowing them to assist the individual if and when they are ready to get into treatment.

Caregivers need to prioritize their wellbeing – a sick family cannot help a sick person.

It takes time to build new systems and create accountability with your loved one with opioid addiction. Tiger Resilience family recovery coaching program can make a difference in your life.

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🐅 How do you actually communicate under pressure?

Most people think they know how they show up in difficult conversations. Most are surprised when they slow down long enough to look honestly.

The Tiger Mirror is a short, guided self-assessment designed to help you recognize your communication pattern under stress. Not labels. Not judgment. Just clarity.

If you’ve ever stayed quiet, pushed too hard, or walked away replaying conversations in your head, this mirror was built for you.

👉 Step into the Tiger Mirror here - answer these 10 questions below and submit for your results!

When someone interrupts you mid-sentence, your most common response is:

A. I stop talking and let them finish, even if my point never gets said

B. I push back immediately and speak louder or faster

C. I let it go in the moment, but feel frustrated afterward

D. I pause, then calmly reclaim the floor and continue my thought

You are asked to take on extra responsibility that you do not have capacity for. What usually happens?

A. I agree, even though I know it will stretch me too thin

B. I respond sharply or defensively

C. I say yes outwardly, but feel resentful and withdrawn later

D. I acknowledge the request and state what I can realistically take on

When conflict starts to rise in a conversation, you tend to:

A. Shut down and hope it passes

B. Lean in aggressively to regain control

C. Avoid the issue and replay the conversation later in my head

D. Stay present and focus on clarity rather than winning

If someone misunderstands your intention, your first instinct is to:

A. Let it go, even if it feels unfair

B. Correct them forcefully

C. Say nothing, but feel misunderstood afterward

D. Clarify your intention calmly and directly

When you need to ask for something important, how does it usually feel?

A. Uncomfortable. I worry about being a burden

B. Urgent. I feel tense and keyed up

C. Heavy. I delay it longer than I should

D. Grounded. I feel prepared to ask clearly

After a difficult conversation, you are most likely to:

A. Question whether I should have said anything at all

B. Feel justified but still unsettled

C. Replay the conversation repeatedly

D. Feel clear about what I said, regardless of the outcome

When someone crosses a boundary you care about, you usually:

A. Say nothing and adjust myself instead

B. Call it out strongly in the moment

C. Pull back emotionally or distance myself later

D. Address it directly and explain the impact

In high-pressure situations, your voice and body language tend to:

A. Get quieter or smaller

B. Become tense or forceful

C. Stay controlled outwardly but tight internally

D. Remain steady and intentional

When expressing disagreement, you are most likely to:

A. Avoid it to keep the peace

B. State your position bluntly

C. Hint at your disagreement rather than say it outright

D. Express your perspective while respecting the other person

When you think about assertive communication, what resonates most?

A. I know I should speak up more, but it feels risky

B. I speak up, but it often escalates

C. I wish I could say what I mean without tension afterward

D. I want to strengthen consistency and confidence in my voice

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Addiction and the Emotional Cost on the Family

🐅 How do you actually communicate under pressure?

You Can Decide Today