Gail Ferguson Jones
Gail Ferguson Jones
Episode 34: Addiction as Infidelity
Episode 34: Addiction as Infidelity
Episode 34: Addiction as Infidelity
Friday 1st September 2023
Therapist Travis Thompson talks about addiction as an emotional affair, its impact on relationships, and offers coping strategies on the Buttrfly Effect podcast.
37 minutes
Informative
Empowering
Inspiring
Hopeful
Thought-provoking
About this podcast
Author:
Gail Ferguson Jones
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Navigating Intimate Relationships
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Episodes:
39 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!When Addiction Feels Like Cheating: Navigating Emotional Disconnect
Episode Overview
- Addiction as infidelity involves a lack of vulnerability and safe connection
- Intensity and lack of emotional resolution contribute to the emotional dynamics in relationships
- False choices in addiction impact individuals struggling with substance abuse
- Navigating the challenges of loving a partner engaged in a 'chemical affair'
- Coping mechanisms and insights for loved ones
I need to feel safe and I need to feel okay. And can we talk our way out of that? There's the choice of how much we're going to mature and grow up because addicts, if you've ever been to a facility, it's like walking into a middle school or high school.
Imagine feeling like your partner is having an affair, but instead of another person, it’s with drugs or alcohol. In this episode of the Buttrfly Effect podcast, host Gail Ferguson Jones chats with Marriage and Family Therapist Travis Thompson about this heart-wrenching reality. Travis, who penned 'To Those Left Behind. Helping Partners and Families Understand and Heal from Addiction', paints a vivid picture of addiction as an emotional affair.
He explains how addicts often find it easier to engage with substances than with their loved ones, creating a deep sense of loneliness and emotional disconnect for their partners. Travis shares how addiction can feel safer for the user than opening up emotionally to their spouse. He dives into the complexities of these 'chemical affairs' and the intense, unresolved emotions that come with them.
The conversation is a raw and honest exploration of the impact of addiction on relationships and offers practical advice for those trying to cope. If you’ve ever felt sidelined by a partner’s substance abuse, this episode provides a compassionate look at your experience. Gail and Travis offer insights into maintaining connections, dealing with emotional intensity, and making tough choices when addiction is in the mix.
It’s a must-listen for anyone grappling with the emotional fallout of loving someone in active addiction.