How Do Unhealthy Family Patterns Lead to Addiction?

Many factors lead to the development of substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral addictions. These factors range from genetics to social influencers. However, genetics aren't the only family-related factor that can increase a person's susceptibility to addiction. Family patterns – more specifically, unhealthy family patterns – can negatively influence us as we grow, increasing the chances of turning to substance use. 

To better understand ourselves now, we must sometimes look to the past. Examining your family dynamics isn't meant to be a daunting dwelling process. It's simply meant to help you understand why you're struggling with addiction and what to do about it going forward. The process is part of the healing journey. Trust in that process today. 

Addiction and Genetics

Before diving into unhealthy family patterns, let's get a better handle on what we should know about addiction and genetics. For starters, genetics not only influence one's risk for developing SUD but they can even influence how someone reacts to treatment. Research shows that addiction is heritable, and more often than not, it's a combination of internal biology and external influences that lead to its development. For that reason, West Coast Recovery Centers strives to address the role of genetics in treatment and recovery. 

Focusing on the influence of genetics and the development of addiction isn't about finding excuses. We must simply acknowledge the profound impact one's family history can have on mental health. It's key to getting to the root cause of addiction, healing from the wounds of the past, and ultimately breaking the future cycle of addiction. The reality is that drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and other addictive behaviors can negatively influence a person's family. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to future addiction-related struggles for one's children and additional generations. 

The Influence of Substance Use on the Family

Before discussing the influence of substance use on the family, it's necessary to express how hard being a parent is. No one is perfect, and each parent is simply doing their best with what they have and in the only way they know how. However, the reality is that addiction can take a serious toll on the members of a family. It causes a lot of psychological harm, causing children to: 

• Feel unsafe in the home 
• Lack communication skills 
• Withdraw at school and struggle academically 
• Develop anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions 
• Experience physical and emotional neglect or abuse 

Substance use also negatively impacts a person's spouse or partner. Relationships are challenging enough on their own. Yet, the added stress of your partner dealing with an addiction can lead to worsening:

• Communication issues 
• Lack of trust and security 
• Financial stress 
• Emotional and physical abuse 
• Neglect and isolation from each other 

It's just as critical for family members of someone struggling with addiction to seek professional help for themselves. Talking to a therapist, attending a support group, or accessing other resources is critical to these loved ones maintaining their mental well-being and learning to support someone through recovery. 

With all this in mind, let's dive into what unhealthy family patterns are and how they influence substance use. 

Understanding Unhealthy Family Patterns

To start, unhealthy family patterns encompass more than just substance use. These patterns include: 

• High-risk parental behaviors that destroy trust within the family 
• Lack of effective communication between spouses, parents, and children 
• Unhealthy boundaries that lead to a power imbalance between parents and children
• Emotional or physical abuse that creates a toxic, dysfunctional cycle 
• Physical or emotional neglect that can lead to increased risks of mental illness
• Lack of empathy that often causes children to act out erratically 
• Control issues and unrealistic expectations within a household 
• Generational trauma, which perpetuates the cycle of family dysfunction 

These are just a few examples of unhealthy or dysfunctional family patterns. When there's dysfunction within the family, it can quickly lead to childhood trauma, self-harming behaviors, and the development of mental health conditions. 

Without proper coping techniques, adequate resources, or a safe place to process these traumas, children often lead to substance use. Unfortunately, self-medicating like this quickly leads to dependency, causing the cycle of family dysfunction to continue spinning from one generation to the next. So, what can we do about it? 

Changing Unhealthy Family Patterns and Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

The first step toward changing unhealthy family patterns and breaking the cycle of addiction is acknowledging the problem. From there, individuals can seek treatment, process complex emotions, and begin healing. Other ways to start breaking the cycle of trauma, addiction, and unhealthy family patterns include: 

• Seeking trauma-informed treatment 
• Learning to create health boundaries in your family 
• Attending individual and group therapy regularly 
• Reducing toxic relationships within your life 
• Maintaining open and honest communication with family members 

Unhealthy family patterns often create a never-ending cycle of trauma, addiction, and dysfunction, but it doesn't have to last. Take the first steps toward breaking the cycle of addiction within your family by calling West Coast Recovery Centers and seeking treatment today. 

For years, the underlying causes of addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) remained unknown. However, research has shown that several factors can lead to the development of addiction. Some of the most significant influences on dependency are genetics, childhood trauma, and dysfunctional or unhealthy family patterns. These unhealthy patterns are characterized by a lack of communication and trust, emotional and physical neglect or abuse, and in many cases, substance use. Acknowledging unhealthy family patterns within your past and present is critical to understanding your root cause of addiction and working toward a life of long-term, sustainable recovery. Call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 to start addressing these concerns and healing today.