Our partner can generate an immense variety of sensations depending on the type of bond we have. Love, fear, anger, disappointment, joy and excitement may be present. It is common for us to share many moments since the couple represents an important part of life. However, it could suddenly happen that we observe some strange behaviors and become disoriented for this reason. Drugs are a gateway to a world that is dangerous both for the lives of those who consume them and for the people who make up the environment. Having knowledge about drugs will give us tools that allow us to help those who suffer from drug use. Do you want to know more about this? In this Psychology-Online article we will provide you with information about What can I do if my partner takes drugs, and why.
How can I know if my boyfriend/girlfriend uses drugs? There are several types of drugs that have negative effects on the health of those who consume them frequently. We must know that drugs produce different effects depending on the characteristics of each one since not all of them are the same. Here we will describe the most important symptoms of drug use:
Physical symptoms
They are those bodily reactions that appear in consumers. They stand out red eyes, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dry mouth, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, slower breathing, poor coordination, dilated pupils, anxiety, nervousness, involuntary movements, tremors, damage to the mouth or nose, among others.
Cognitive symptoms
They are the ideas presented by a person who consumes substances. Among the most relevant, the catastrophic thoughts about the person himself and about the world, hallucinations, difficulties in concentration and attentionmemory problems…
Behavioral symptoms
These are the behaviors that can be observed in drug users. We will mention at this point the irritability, mood changesslower or faster breathing, disinhibition, insomnia, euphoria, aggressiveness, constipation, among others.
Each substance will produce different effects depending on the dose consumed. One or more symptoms may appear depending on the type of drug used.
What is it like to live with a drug addict? Beyond knowing the characteristics of a person who frequently consumes toxic substances such as drugs, we must also think about the people with whom the addict has a close bond. At this point, the partner of an addict presents a series of extremely important guidelines that must not be neglected:
- Feeling of loneliness: The partners of addicts experience a strong feeling of loneliness since many of the decisions that are the responsibility of the couple are made unilaterally. This gives them a great responsibility that is difficult to face.
- Appearance of negative feelings: It is possible that guilt appears on the addict’s partner for not being able to control drug use. As we mentioned before, the responsibility they feel in these situations It places a huge burden on them. When the addict continues using despite the partner’s efforts to avoid contact with drugs, they feel it as a failure that produces anger, anguish and frustration.
It is difficult to know if a person who has a drug addiction can actually love since it will depend on the characteristics he or she has as well as the bond established with a particular person. You may have feelings related to love but there are also manipulation traits that can be part of the relationship. For this reason, it is essential to know the person to determine if their way of acting corresponds to love or a method to obtain elements of personal benefit such as drugs.
What can I do if my spouse takes drugs? When someone is immersed in difficulties caused by drug consumption, it is possible that deception appears in relationships to continue with this problem. Given this, we suggest a series of steps to take into account at this time:
- Talk to family: The family environment is part of the addict’s world and will be the place where valuable information can be obtained to treat it.
- To look for help: There are various forms of treatment for people with drug addictions. Short-term therapies work on goal resolution, so it can be a tool that allows the patient to approach these situations in another way. On the other hand, there are long-term therapies that seek the origin of a conflict. This allows the patient understand the cause of your behaviors and emotions to be able to make them. In this way, this type of therapy offers the possibility of facing situations from another point of view.