Suffering from an addiction is a true trial to face for anyone, and the lasting impacts it can have on your life are immense. Not only can drug and alcohol addiction change you and your own life, but it can also have serious effects on the people around you. Avoiding drug and alcohol abuse to prevent becoming addicted in the first place is the best form of preventative measure you can take. However, if you think that you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction and you’re ready to escape from it, starting your recovery process in a center such as Landmark Rehab Center is a decision that will change your life for the better. Here are some ways that addiction can impact you and your loved one’s lives.
Your Physical Health
Naturally, the excessive use and dependence on any substance, especially harmful ones like chemical drugs or alcohol, will take its toll on your body eventually. These harmful substances can cause many and varied effects. Some of these include cancer, memory loss, liver damage, stomach ulcers, heart problems, pancreas inflammation and an overall reduced immune system. There is also always the risk of overdose which can have serious and long-lasting effects and can even lead to death.
Your Mental Health
The long-term use or abuse of drugs and alcohol can have serious impacts on the chemical structures of your brain – leading to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, as well as other mood and mental implications. Drug abuse and mental illness are struggles that often coincide and this is largely due to the fact that these substances are depressants and can trigger or worsen various mental health issues.
Your Relationships
Struggling with an addiction can impact your relationships in various ways and for many different reasons. Whether you’re dealing with problems with your family, friends or a partner, it can be frustrating and heartbreaking for both sides to go through these trials. Many of the struggles that arise in relationships where drug or alcohol abuse are a problem include issues related to secrecy, deception and trust. Trust and communication are cornerstone elements of healthy relationships that addiction tends to mess with and often destroy for good. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no hope – choosing to work hard at recovery can be an encouraging first step for your loved ones to see that you’re serious about making a change and allowing them to trust you and come back into your life.
The Takeaway
Battling with an addiction is no easy task – but recovery is worth it. Visiting Rehab in Indiana and seeking help is the first step towards taking your life back and proving to those you love that you’re ready and willing to make a change, to treat them ad yourself better and to find who you truly are again. Nobody has to be bound to addiction for life, and all aspects of your life and health can be recovered and are worth the effort.