Effects on Family Members
There is no question that behavioral addictions can have devastating effects on one's family members as well as on the addict himself. The sorrow that family members feel over the suffering of their loved one may be compounded with financial consequences of repaying debt or helping fund treatment.
Guilt, embarrassment, shame, anxiety, and grief are common and understandable feelings that family members may experience. Then they often experience further guilt when they acknowledge those painful feelings in connection with someone they care about so much.
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Behavioral addictions can take family members by surprise. Many addictions that fall into this category, such as exercise addiction, seem like positive healthy outlets in the beginning. This makes it much easier to rationalize, deny, and ignore the problem family members may suspect in their addicted loved one.
Family members also need support, whether that occurs in a therapeutic support group or in individual or family therapy. It is very difficult to know how to set appropriate limits with an addicted loved one while at the same time wanting to be perceived by the addict as supportive. This requires courage and wisdom beyond what one might expect.
Fear can be overwhelming. Family members fear what their addicted loved one may have to go through as a result of the addiction. Jail, bankruptcy, divorce, and hospitalization are all realistic possibilities. Family members may not be able to face their fears alone; again, help is needed and one should not hesitate to seek it out.
