Information for Family & Friends:
The Progression of Addiction Within the Family
The progression and recovery symptoms listed below are based on the most repeated experiences of family members living with the disease of alcoholism/addiction. While every symptom does not occur in every member of every family, or in the same sequence, the progression chart does portray an average chain reaction. The entire process may take weeks, months, or even years.
Early Stages - Family Members:
- Become aware of problems such as money, house, chores, sex, etc.
- Begin to nag
- Feel the need to “control”
- Begin to “deny” and to “rationalize”
Middle Stages - Family Members:
- Cover up for the alcoholic/addict
- Obtain promises from the alcoholic/addict
- Lose their own self respect
- Feel insecure
- Experience fear and anxiety
- Begin “headaches, ulcers, nerves”, etc.
- Withdraw from others
- Possible reactions: filing for divorce, reconciliation, attempt to get help
Advanced or Chronic Stages - Family Members:
- Assume blame for drinking/drug use
- Experience deterioration of their own health
- Realize magnitude of problem: affairs, overspending, neglect of family
- React: tranquilizer and other pill use, attempted suicide
- Search for help