Drug addiction has an impact on all aspects of life, including relationships. Substance abuse makes it difficult to maintain trust, respect, and open communication – all of which are essential components of a healthy relationship. You may be wondering can two addicts have a healthy relationship. Most likely not.
When two addicts are in a relationship, they are more likely to keep enabling one another. Someone outside the relationship will most likely need to intervene and hold an intervention. The addicts might be able to coexist after treatment, but it will be difficult.
What Effect Does Addiction Have on Relationships?
It’s also important to recognize that addicts can exhibit common behavioral patterns that may cause a schism in any relationship. Can two addicts have a healthy relationship and must know how addiction affects the relationship?
When there is one sober person and one who struggles with addiction, addiction can destroy a relationship. Codependency is a dysfunctional dynamic in which the addicted individual is allowed by the other person involved. Drug dependency completely transforms a person, altering how they interact with others, function, and live their lives.
Numerous specific behavioral traits frequently threaten relationships. These characteristics drive away people they have cared for.
Addicts tend to lie, mislead others, and generally be dishonest about their intentions, actions, and feelings. Lying can sometimes spiral out of control as a way for people to protect themselves and their addiction. Frequently leads to false promises of quitting their drug-abusing habit. Many times, people will continue to lie about where their money is going to be used.
Drug addicts frequently blame and guilt others for their actions and habits. They may falsely accuse their loved ones. Not wanting them to be happy, all in an attempt to manipulate their relationships to go the way they want them to.
Drugs make people violent, among other dangerous side effects. As a result, up to 60% of domestic violence incidents involve substance abuse. Addicts who use drugs are more likely to be physically and emotionally abusive to others.
When an addict falls in love with another addict, they frequently encourage and sustain each other’s addictions. Negative responses and behaviors are common and have the potential to sever the relationship. These are common characteristics of an addict’s behavior. Put two people with these characteristics together, and you get twice the unhealthy coping habits.
Refusing to accept responsibility for one’s actions. Making excuses or shifting the blame.
They blame the other when they feel attacked. Using the phrases “you always.”
Harassing or dismissing your partner’s feelings. Calling them names, being sarcastic, or rolling your eyes.
Abolishing or ceasing operations Nonverbal communication can take the form of silence, distancing, or changing the subject.
Codependency and Drug Addiction
Although it is not always the case, codependency is frequently present in relationships with addicts. It’s because the lives of family members are focused on addiction. As a result, family members attempt to assist their loved ones in the wrong ways, and they eventually gain satisfaction from being needed by the addicted person.
Codependents require the addicted person to feel needed, so they engage in enabling behaviors. Individuals who become codependent exhibit some of the following characteristics:
Codependents are afraid that their relationship with the addicted individual will end, so they will go to great lengths to accommodate their partner. They frequently take on the role of caregiver, sometimes to the point of neglecting their own needs.
What Can Go Wrong When Two Addicts Get Together?
Can two addicts have a healthy relationship when both participants are likely to show at least some of the behavioral characteristics associated with substance abuse problems?
If you share a house with someone, you will influence them. And if you share your home or your life with an addict, you open the door for yourself to become addicted.
In a relationship between two drug addicts, neither individual will address relationship issues with a clear, unbiased mind.
While two addicts may love and want to connect and have a normal relationship, their substance abuse disorders will likely get in the way.
It’s double the trouble for two addicts because it means twice the unhealthy coping habits, potential violence, and manipulation. It becomes a common site for back-and-forth blaming, as well as long-term drug or alcohol dependency. This type of occurrence usually results in the emergence of distinct, toxic dynamics that can be extremely dangerous and unproductive for the partners in the long run. If an addict has a romantic relationship with another addict, neither has a good chance of getting sober. With proper medical intervention, achieving sobriety may be a process.
Relating your addictive behavior to someone else may shift the responsibility and weight of addiction off your shoulders and onto theirs. But, in the end, you still have an addiction.
Codependency is an excessive reliance on other people for approval and a sense of identity. Codependency treatment requires time and effort, as well as the assistance of a professional clinician. Codependent behavior is one of the most common issues that partners in mutual addiction disorders face.
Is it Possible for a Couple to Get Sober Together?
With two addicts living under the same roof, squabbles, blame games, illnesses, and mental illnesses will constantly heat the atmosphere? Can two addicts have a healthy relationship when they seek help? Does this location provide no opportunity for wellness or recovery? However, an addict may want to choose sobriety over addiction at times, but this may be impossible due to codependency. In such cases, it is always preferable to part ways for the time being and seek guidance through rehabs and individual journeys.
Conclusions
Can two addicts have a healthy relationship when everyone else is skeptical? Before a couple can consider how to rebuild their relationship, they must address their addiction first. Some realize that there has been too much damage done to repair and recover the connection they have. The number one priority here is to focus on both selves first and do everything to maintain sobriety on your own. Then, if the two still love each other and want to make this work, they can re-unite and concentrate on their relationship.
