Is it possible for an addict to love another person?

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   Rayhneposted 15 years ago

   When there is lying and hiding, is there a way to have a healthy relationship? When a person has a substance abuse problem is it possible and or healthy for them to be in a relationship? Give me your insight and check out my hub titled "I Am The Other Woman". Let me know what you think

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      Randy Godwinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Do you include food abuse?

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         Rayhneposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Any abuse that someone would feel they had to lie about

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   Madame Xposted 15 years ago

   An addict is completely self absorbed, for whatever reason. If they weren't it would be possible for them to focus on someone else for a bit instead of their addiction. I think they are capable of love but how to show it is almost non-existent in their social repertoire.

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   Sybil Marieposted 15 years ago

   It's not about love it's about addiction. An active addict is just that. The drugs become more important to them than anything else. They need it.
   Because of their addiction and the envitable deceit it involves they are unable to be honest even with themselves, to love even themselves. Checkout my hub "For love of an addict" for me it pretty much answers the question.

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   bassplayersrgodsposted 14 years ago

   Absence of love feeds addiction worse than the presence of love. I've seen addiction healed by love. You haven't? Meet some people...

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   Polly Cposted 14 years ago

   I think an addict may feel they are in love, and may indeed care about another person, but will never be able to put that person, or any other person, before their own addiction unless they can overcome their problems. And an addict can almost never be trusted or relied upon. Though I have never had a relationship with an addict, I have known some.

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   Disturbiaposted 14 years ago

   What kind of addict are you talking about... drugs, food, sex?
   
   Lying and hiding are not part of any healthy relationship whether the people involved are addicts or not.  And not all addicts hide their addiciton from loved ones.
   
   Sometimes it's love for a family member or children that gives addicts the strength and desire to overcome their addictions and get their lives back on track again.  My husband's ex-girlfriend was able to overcome her meth addiction to get her children back after she was arrested and they were taken away from her.

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      Jennifer Lynchposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It has been my experience through work I have done that an addict can meet someone and have a relationship with them.  The happiness experienced actually helps them but then if the relationship goes wrong, back to square one.  The person involved was an addict and his partner did not take drugs but it didn't take long until she joined him in it.

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         the pink umbrellaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         i knwo way too much about this one, as good ol spencer is in a 45 day rehab right now. We were together before the addiction (work accident that escilated to heroin addiction) so its very hard on the adddict as well as the spouse or g/friend b/friend.  I could write a book on living with an addict. And yes, i often felt at times that there was no way he could love me...how? with all of the lying, hiding, and deception....

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