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Held Hostage by a Loved One’s Addiction
Finding Hope Family Support Groups
Written By
Finding Hope Team
Held Hostage by a Loved One’s Addiction
“Because of Finding Hope, I have learned I can’t be held hostage anymore because of my loved one’s addiction.” —Finding Hope Member
Merriam-Webster defines a hostage as someone involuntarily controlled by an outside influence. Other words for hostage include bondage, prisoner, and captive.
You might think it’s strong to say you’re a hostage to your loved one’s addiction, but ask yourself: Are you letting their addiction control you?
Take a moment to reflect on how addiction has impacted your life:
- Have you ever changed your plans and dropped everything when your loved one called?
- Have you ever come home from a trip early because your loved one needed you?
- Have you ever answered the phone in the middle of the night?
- Have you ever just waited at home and canceled your day because your loved one said they were coming home, and then they never showed up?
- Have you ever believed your loved ones lies, even though you knew better?
- Have you ever been stuck in the cycle of trying to figure out how to fix them… and tried to fix them?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have been held hostage by your loved one’s addiction. If you feel lost and this is all you can think about, you are a hostage. But you do NOT have to stay there. You have the power to say “YES” to yourself and “NO” to others. When you sense you’re being taken hostage again, ask the Lord for strength to push through, reach out to a Finding Hope Member, join a meeting, listen to the Finding Hope podcast, read the Finding Hope book, or start a Finding Hope Bible plan. Whatever you do, do NOT become the victim of another hostage situation.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
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