5 Manipulative Behaviors Observed in Addiction Sufferers

By Your Health Magazine

Although addicts shouldn’t be treated like pariahs of society, it’s also important to recognize that they can be quite manipulative of those around them in order to get what they want. They will do almost anything to obtain their fix, even if it means lying to those that they love. Here are five big manipulative behaviors that addicts engage in.

Giving The Silent Treatment

Therapy sessions at any Orange County addiction treatment facility will teach you that addicts are experts at giving silent treatment. The addict gives the silent treatment in order to force some kind of response from those around them and, if they don’t, then they have the power to turn the conversation in any direction that they want. It is a passive-aggressive form of manipulation that makes things uncomfortable for the addict’s loved ones while the addict can escape the conversation with impunity.

Shifting The Blame

Addicts have no problem making themselves the victims in every situation that they’re in. Even when they’re doing something wrong, it is always someone else’s fault that caused them to be in the situation that they’re in. It takes the accountability off of them and places it on someone else so that they don’t have to really face the repercussions of their actions. Addicts will also point the finger at treatment programs, stating that they don’t work or are only trying to help people for the money; addicts would prefer continuing to have the problem than to fix it.

Lashing Out At Those Around Them

Addicts use lashing out to teach their friends and loved ones not to question them. The fewer questions there are, the easier their lives can be and they won’t have to reflect on their own actions. Over time, loved ones will learn that it’s easier to avoid confrontation and won’t say anything in the future, which is exactly what the addict wants. This is the main reason why so many family members are hesitant to consider intervention because they’re afraid that the addict will lash out at them.

Guilt-Tripping

Addicts are all about putting the blame on someone else rather than themselves, and they do so by guilt-tripping those around them to, again, make themselves the victim. They will be quick to blame others when something goes wrong, even if they are the source of that wrong event. This guilt-tripping really comes out during an intervention, where the addict will blame their loved ones for getting them the help that they need.

Dependency

Addicts are not in positions to be financially, emotionally, physically, or mentally capable of taking care of themselves, so they become dependent on their loved ones to help them with the other areas of their lives. On the same note, family members become dependent on the addict as well, fulfilling the role of feeling needed by the addict because that’s the only role that’s left.

Whether an addict chooses to become clean or sober is outside of the control of their loved ones. It’s something they’ll have to actively want and engage with the recovery program themselves. But that means stepping in and speaking with an addiction specialist first to get the addict the help that they need.