10 Signs Your Loved One Is Struggling With Addiction

It’s no secret that addiction is a multifaceted disease, and depending on the substance and frequency of abuse, among other factors, addiction treats every individual and family differently; therefore, for effective addiction treatment, the individual struggling with the disease must be kept at the center of the program to ensure his or her unique battle is treated.

While symptoms and treatment of the disease vary from person to person, what remains similar are the signs that a loved one may be struggling with addiction. Not every individual suffering from alcohol and drug addiction will show all of the following signs, but be aware if your loved one is to show one or a combination of them.

1. Being secretive or evasive. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right? Well, addicts will go to great lengths to hide their addiction. This can include avoiding clear answers to your questions, keeping secrets, or acting in unusual manners.

2. Lying frequently. Going along with the first sign in keeping secrets or avoiding questions, individuals struggling with addiction will flat out lie to you to protect themselves from admitting their addiction.

3. Mood swings. Noticeable fluctuations in mood can be a result of a psychiatric disorder often affiliated with addiction or based on the substance abused. Some illicit drugs and alcohol trigger different emotions and the amount of the substance abused and frequency of abuse can trigger major mood swings.

4. Major changes in sleep of energy levels. Very similar to mood swings, alcohol and drug addiction can play a major role in an addict’s energy levels. The substance abused can play a pertinent role on whether an individual expresses intense amounts of energy, like through the abuse of cocaine or methamphetamine, or expresses a type of melancholy depression paired with drowsiness or excessive sleep patterns through the abuse of depressants like benzodiazepines or prescription sedatives.

5. Fluctuations in weight. Many substances have a direct correlation to metabolism and appetite; therefore, an individual struggling from alcohol and drug addiction may suffer from sever weight gain or loss. Eating disorders are also a form of a psychiatric disorder that can happen in tandem to an alcohol and drug addiction—a dual diagnosis. A dual diagnosis can also be an explanation for individual’s fluctuations in weight.

6. Attitude and appearance changes. Much like fluctuations in weight, when an individual is struggling with addiction they often change their way of living, including the way in which they dress, carry themselves and treat others. Substance abuse can trigger an abundance of moods and actions such as, aggression, apprehension, shortness with others, etc. This can be explained through the psychological impact of illicit drugs and alcohol on the human body or through changes in the people they hang out with and activities they start to take part in. Alcohol and drug abuse generally makes an individual think about life differently, therefore sparking a different way of living it.

7. Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy. Alcohol and drug addiction consumes a large part of an individual’s life, which in turn gives them little time to continue the hobbies they used to enjoy. If you notice a loved one no longer wants to spend time with their family and friends or stops participating in activities they normally would have, alcohol and drug addiction may be the case.

8. Failing to meet obligations. When an individual is entrapped by addiction it overtakes their rational thinking; including, meeting deadlines, going to work, finishing tasks, etc. A major sign of alcohol and drug addiction is when an individual who you would normally see as responsible and driven starts to fail in meeting commitments because they seem to no longer care.

9. Loss of memory. If you and your loved ones are reminiscing of good times and one member doesn’t participate in the conversation due to lack of memory, or like sign number eight, your loved one forgets to meet obligations, an alcohol and drug addiction may be causing a loss in memory. Substance abuse often causes blackouts from heavy usage in a small window of time. The more blackouts an individual undergoes, the more longtime memory loss that individual may suffer. Most illicit drugs also have direct impacts on the working of the human brain, which can cause memory loss among many other damaging effects.

10. Stealing. If you start to notice things of value or money disappearing around the house, a common explanation is an individual in your family is struggling with addiction. Addicts will do anything to feed their next high, and that includes stealing from the ones they love just to buy drugs or alcohol.

If you recognize one or a combination of these signs in one of your loved ones, the next step may be to confront the addiction with an intervention. An addict may not realize that they have a problem with alcohol and drug abuse, or the addiction has entrapped their rational thinking to where they no longer want to stop using.

Addictive drugs also take hold of brain chemistry and some bodily functions that create a need for continued use and the addict is no longer able to stop using on their own free will. By holding an intervention you and your loved ones can bring light to the dangerous situation you are all in and move towards seeking professional help.

The word ‘rehab’ always held a bad connotation to me, and although a part of me knew I needed to go, I still struggled with the realization that I was indeed an addict, and this was a necessary part of my recovery.”

– Darrin

Don’t hesitate to call our trained addiction specialists today to find out more about conducting an intervention and getting your loved one into the proper alcohol and drug rehab center. Rid you and your family from this devastating disease. 855-678-8337

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