Dangers of Dating an Addict

If you were talking to your best friend, you’d be warning the person to stay away from dating an addict. However, here you are in precisely this position. You didn’t realize it at first, but now it’s glaringly apparent. What are the dangers of continuing this relationship?

Will You Become an Enabler?

You understand that dating an addict isn’t an ideal situation. Even so, you feel like you’ve invested too much in the relationship to back out. However, there’s the danger of becoming the enabler. Your partner might communicate admiration and appreciation when you help cover up the substance abuse.

When conducting addiction therapy for couples, relationship experts warn the sober person away from enablement. It’s difficult because the line seems to blur between love and unhealthy devotion. Similarly, your life’s focus changes to becoming a caretaker. It’s no longer an equal give-and-take relationship.

Dating an Addict Endangers Your Own Sobriety

Trying the drug that your partner’s using is tempting. Maybe you envy the euphoric high. On the flipside, your partner might be pressuring you. They say it would bring you closer together if you shared the experience.

However, you’ve seen what it’s like when the drug wears off. You know the anxiety to get another fix. These are withdrawal symptoms that you may notice when you are dating an addict.

If You Want Your Relationship to Have a Future, Base It on Sobriety

Chemical addiction isn’t a reasonable basis for a relationship. It doesn’t provide the stability and long-term opportunities you need. Therefore, it makes sense to propose to your partner to end the substance abuse. If they care for you and your future together, it should be an easy decision.

Enrolling in rehab is the best option. There, professionals help your partner overcome physical and psychological addiction. Most importantly, they assist with the development of healthy coping and life skills. Treatments for dating an addict include:

• Relationship counseling that helps the two of you work together toward sobriety
• Behavioral counseling, which encourages changes to unhealthy stress responses
• Psychotherapy that addresses underlying mental health conditions as well as trauma
• Mindfulness training as a way of focusing on healthy reactions to emotions and triggers
• Experiential therapies that provide opportunities for socializing with peers in recovery without the urge to use

Therapists will customize the treatment approach to suit your partner. Because everyone’s different, it’s essential that the healing experience is as unique as the person who is dating an addict. If you’re also abusing substances, it’s critical that you quit using, too. Failure to do so would jeopardize your loved one’s long-term recovery.

Consider checking into rehab as well. Your treatment might look different from your partner’s. Work closely with the addiction specialists who’ll assist you with overcoming chemical dependency. Most importantly, attend couples counseling sessions to support one another.

When dating an addict, the focus must be on achieving sobriety. Otherwise, there’s a good chance that you won’t like the person you’ll become. Contact Beaches Recovery for help today. Dial 866.605.0532 now.