Addictions Ruin Homes and Families

There are ways to heal the addicts back to health and help them lead a normal life.

Addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling happens when individuals avoid facing realities of

lives and look for an escape into a world of fantasy. This escape leads them to excessive

drinking, or drives them to drugs or gambling or even hooked on to mobiles.

In my experience working with the people, I had the opportunity to look into the lives of

such people who are dogged with dilemmas or facing a difficult situation. Film Devdas’ hero

portrayed the character of a person who slips into the abyss of grief due to loss of a loved

one.

Addictions of any kind are injurious to health and challenge to the stability of life. It is not

the way to face realities of life. It may offer temporary relief from worry or misery but

impacts the life adversely in a major way. Smoking may cause cancer or lung disease. Drug

addiction can affect the mental and emotional stability, may lead to ill-health besides

landing one into disastrous relationships. Gambling can spell financial bankruptcy.

An addict suffers from loss of self-esteem and self-confidence. His work efficiency declines

and may even lead to loss of job. He will not be able to utilize his full potential to be

productive. An alcoholic generally suffers from depression. Smokers are gripped with

Anxiety. All kinds of addiction lead to disruption of family relationships. Fights may erupt

between spouses and children may feel demoralized due to parental disputes. Domestic

violence can result into much more obnoxious results. Addicts can consult psychiatrists or

counselors or can seek admission at rehabilitation homes where a stay for up to 21 days or

more can help them shrug off the addiction. Such counselors can lead them on the

trajectory of de-addiction by putting before them smaller goals such as staying away from

addiction for a day or two to begin with.

Case study: An addict shared his personal story. He got into alcohol addiction with small

doses of it among his friends and did not think much of it causing any disruption in his life.

But he then ended up marrying a woman alcohol addict as they shared love for alcohol

between themselves. They were blessed with a son but the lady would not take care of him.

The relatives who got worried about the future of the child, placed him into an orphanage.

It did not take much time after that for the two spouses to separate as the marriage was not

working. The addiction wrecked the man financially. He was found sleeping on a bench of a

bus shelter one night. A Samaritan took him to a rehabilitation center which healed him

back to health. He became an instructor in a gym. He was informed by someone that his

wife had passed away in an accident. He began to look out for his son who was traced under

the tender care of a loving family who had guided him in studies. He was into the final year

of his degree. They met after 20 years.

In this case addiction separated the spouses from each other as well as separated the child

who ended up living with another family. Each member of this family went through their

own share of pain and suffering all because of addiction.

(This article was previously published by the Newstrail Newspaper at Bengaluru).

About the Author:

Sarah Ahmed is a Psychological Counselor and Therapist based in Bengaluru. She has 10

years of experience working in the field of Emotional and Mental Wellbeing. She is also the

author of the book “Therapeutic Baking for Emotional Wellness” published on Amazon. She

was also a panelist member for an addiction conference held in Bengaluru in 2022.She has

also been awarded with the SAMS service award for the humanitarian contribution to the

community at a women’s day event organized by the SAMS trust Ngo in 2019.