The Impact of Process Addictions on Families
Process addictions include gambling, sexual compulsivity, pornography use, and gaming and can also be associated with food, work, exercise, shopping, and internet use. In a previous blog on Process Addictions, Family Recovery Collective featured information on “What is a Process Addiction?” Process addiction research is ongoing to help understand when someone’s lifestyle and activities become problematic and need treatment. The lack of information about process addiction is correlated with a lack of understanding and increased stigma for those who struggle with them. Regardless of the type, families and friends of loved one’s struggling with a process addiction will be impacted. For this reason, we will now explore, “The Impact of Process Addictions on Families”.
The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family describes family systems theory as “a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the unit’s complex interactions.” Accordingly, families are connected emotionally and the actions of any one member can “profoundly affect” other family members. This cause and effect also known as “connectedness and reactivity make the functioning of family members interdependent.” (1) When any member of a family is actively addicted, the impacts on the other members of the family follow predictable patterns: disruption of family dynamics, an increase in emotional distress, more financial strain, increased stress on the children, and breakdown of individual relationships are all likely outcomes.
Disruption of Family Dynamics
Family interdependence will naturally reflect the emotional, physical, financial and other capacities of each individual. Let’s take a simple example. There may be one person who likes to cook; others who clean. Someone who performs outside chores, another who oversees inside maintenance. Whatever the division of labor and interests, addiction disrupts the entire family system.
Individuals with process addictions may neglect familial responsibilities such as childcare, household chores, or financial management, leading to strain within the family unit. Increased tension and arguments may arise within the family due to financial instability, deception, or the prioritization of addictive behaviors over familial relationships. In addition, family members may assume roles typically held by the addicted individual, such as caretaking or financial provision, leading to role confusion and resentment. This is especially true when a child assumes the role of a parent in caretaking the parent or other siblings.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress can take many forms depending on how a family deals with conflict. Family members may experience feelings of guilt or shame associated with the addictive behavior of their loved one, leading to emotional distress and self-blame. These feelings will influence that family members ability to deal directly with addictive behavior. In other words, a person experiencing guilt and shame may avoid dealing with issues. Living with a family member struggling with a process addiction can lead to heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress within the household. Often times, these mental health issues will be accompanied by physical health problems as well, such as digestive issues and headaches. Family members may also withdraw from social interactions due to embarrassment or fear of judgment regarding their loved one's addictive behavior, resulting in social isolation. In some ways, substance use disorder is less stigmatizing than a process addiction because it is more widely understood as a brain disease.
Financial Strain
Process addictions, especially those like shopping, spending, or gambling can often involve significant financial expenditure, leading to debt, bankruptcy, or the depletion of family savings, which can impact the entire family's financial stability.
Gambling addiction, in particular, can lead to breaking the law in order to cover debts. Because betting can involve significant amounts of money, problem gamblers have resorted to theft and embezzlement to cover unpaid debts. This can lead to a host of legal problems for the person and as a result, the family. The financial strains on the family may lead to loss of social status through changes in work, home, school environments, and activities.
Impact on Children
Children of parents with process addictions may experience developmental challenges as a result of neglect for their care and wellbeing, emotional instability in parents, and disrupted routines. The affects may delay their cognitive and emotional development. There is also a link between addiction and a child’s attachment to caregivers. When caregivers are physically or emotionally unavailable, children develop maladaptive behaviors which put them at risk for addiction. Growing up in an environment where addictive behaviors are normalized also increases the likelihood of children developing their own addictive tendencies later in life. (2) Finally, the stress and chaos resulting from living with a family member struggling with a process addiction can impact children's academic performance, social relationships, and overall well-being.
Relationship Breakdown
The strain caused by process addictions can lead to relationship breakdowns, separations, or divorce as family members struggle to cope with the consequences of the addiction. Deception, manipulation, and broken promises associated with addictive behaviors erode trust within the family, making it challenging to rebuild healthy relationships. The effects of process addictions can extend beyond the immediate family, impacting future generations through learned behaviors, trauma, and disrupted family dynamics.
Support and Coping Strategies for Families
Families facing Process Addictions should consider getting support to help stabilize the family system, minimize impacts on family dynamics, and avoid other negative consequences of living with active process addictions. Among the options are:
1. Individual and Family Therapy: Engaging in family therapy or counseling can help address underlying issues, improve communication, and rebuild trust within the family unit. Working with a professional who has training in addiction as well as family systems is important.
2. Setting Boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries and consequences for addictive behaviors can help mitigate the impact of the addiction on family dynamics and relationships.
3. Self-Care: Encouraging family members to prioritize self-care, seek support from friends or support groups, and engage in healthy coping mechanisms can foster resilience and emotional well-being amidst the challenges of living with a loved one struggling with a process addiction.
4. Joining support groups to find others on the journey of recovery from the impacts of process addictions.
Conclusion
Process Addiction is less studied, less understood by behavioral health experts, and often more hidden than substance use disorders. It is our hope that process addiction research will reveal more information regarding who is at risk for developing a process addiction, how substance use disorders and process addictions are related to one another, best practices for treating process addictions and public policies to guide our public health agenda.
In the meantime, Family Recovery Collective wants you to know that you are not alone. If you believe your loved one has a problem with a process addiction, Family Recovery Collective offers several resources including “How has the Addiction Impacted Me?” and “How Do I know if My Loved One has a Problem?” Additionally, Family Recovery Collective features interviews with experts in the field of addiction. Join the FRC Community to learn more.
Resources
1. https://www.thebowencenter.org/introduction-eight-concepts
