Family is a very important element of reference for everyone. A man is born into a family. Even if his family does not currently exist, you can always reconstruct a certain history of it, which shapes unconscious intergenerational messages that affect the life of an individual from the moment of birth to his death. The family is sometimes described using a family tree, on which we discover the fate of at least two families that meet in a parental, marriage or partnership relationship.

The family is understood as a system in which individual members influence each other. In understanding family phenomena, there are no simple cause-and-effect relationships, but a certain circular dynamics is observed, i.e. the reaction of one person causes a response in the other, and the reaction of the latter in turn causes a response in the first (feedback loops). Individual family members therefore constantly react to the behavior of their relatives and each other. Every family system strives to maintain internal balance. Various external situations and the development of individual people and the development of the family cause changes within this system and its destabilization. Some of these changes are natural and some are unpredictable. When a crisis situation arises, the family organizes around it and concentrates on the reactions caused by this situation in order to maintain the existing balance. This does not always work, and then change is necessary.

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Each person in the family would like to have the best possible conditions for their individual development, but also to have a sense of bond with other family members. Therefore, the key role in the proper functioning of a human being is played by the balance between the fulfillment of the need for belonging (being together) and separation. The better individual family members function, maintaining a balance between dependence and independence, the more efficiently the needs of all family members are met and their roles, tasks, etc. are fulfilled. The whole family functions more efficiently and the level of satisfaction and psychosocial functioning of individual individuals is higher.

Excessive alcohol drinking, drug use, drug abuse, and gambling generate all sorts of family problems. Addiction affects the functioning of the entire family system. Crises appear, interpersonal difficulties intensify and the level of security and mutual trust decreases. There are losses in terms of physical and mental health as well as material losses of both the addicted person and individual family members. No one remains indifferent to the difficulties that arise as a result of addiction in a family member.

Stages of family adaptation to the problem of addiction

Denial of problems

The family in which addiction develops goes through several phases. First of all, there is a denial that the problem of addiction exists at all. Explaining the problems with various circumstances means that the addicted person does not take responsibility for their behavior, and often they are not aware of the problem. Initially, the denial mechanism has a regulatory function in order to maintain balance in the family system, but in the long run it causes the accumulation of tension and contributes to the increase of stressful situations without adequate solutions. The short-term gain is that you can’t stay the way you are without changing anything.

Problems escalating

However, family relationships, over time, deteriorate, grow: resentment, hostility, helplessness, shame, sadness, anger, hatred and other difficult experiences, until living in one house becomes unbearable. Individual family members deal with the behavior of an addict in different ways, e.g. during the direct use of a psychoactive substance, various intense unpleasant emotions (anger, hatred, fear) and behaviors (fury, aggression, attack, suicide threats) may appear, this often becomes an excuse to continue in addiction.

Over time, this person takes compromising actions, causing family members shame and embarrassment. During the period of intensive use of a psychoactive substance, behaviors such as stealing money, absence from home, spending time on drinking occur at the expense of study, work or fulfilling household duties. It’s hard not to see the damage that addiction causes.

Hope

Periods of abstinence of an addict are also problematic for family members. It seems that the problem has been solved, there is hope and faith that everything will be fine, that the situation will change for the better, mutual promises and assurances are made that dramatic moments will not return.

 The feeling of guilt that an addicted person experiences at that time can influence various behaviors to compensate for negligence and situations of tension. Often, family members do not perceive this period as difficult, and it is the period that most perpetuates the entanglement and sustains persistence in a chronically destructive situation, without making a change.

This time of hope intensifies unrealistic thinking, expressed in such beliefs as: “if the husband stops drinking alcohol, everything will be fine”, “if he stops playing slot machines, we will finally pay off our debts and get straight”. After some time, the situation repeats itself. Suffering reappears, increasing over time, especially when the addict regularly returns to addictive behavior. Helplessness and loss of self-confidence and the ability to control one’s life are increasing.

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Insulation

Family members, wanting to maintain the current balance in the family, organize their activities around the difficulties that appear on a daily basis as a result of behaviors related to the active addiction of one of the members. Initially, the family, not noticing the seriousness of the situation, lowers its vigilance to the growing difficulties in partner and parental relationships, in performing everyday duties, meeting needs, and communicating. Family conflicts can be dramatic and can turn into various forms of physical and/or psychological and economic violence.

 An often repeated scenario is that as the problem escalates, family members begin to withdraw from social contact, thus limiting the possibility of receiving help. Experiencing shame, they begin to hide their problem not only from the outside environment, but also avoid talking about it among themselves, which causes general confusion. Chaos and helplessness are growing in families during this isolation. There is an increasing violation of the sense of security and mutual distrust, and often the inability to solve the problem on your own. This is a particularly difficult situation for children who, out of loyalty to their family, follow the rule: “don’t tell”, which secondarily blocks the possibility of seeking support from other adults.

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Top Professional Photographer Points

I Am Getting Started

To start, invest in a good quality DSLR camera. There are many brands to choose from. Do thorough research on the types and brands of DSLR cameras available. Once you have made your choice, visit stores for an in-depth demonstration of how to handle and operate your new camera. Or if you’re purchasing online, do read the user manual thoroughly. If you are not sure about your photography capabilities, you can invest in a second-hand camera or borrow one till you’re confident in working with your own.

I Am Learning About Photography

No photographer is born as one. You have to learn the techniques and the rules and laws of photography. Enroll yourself in workshops in and around your locality to get hands-on experience. You can also take up photography classes either online or in-person to learn a bit more in-depth. They might even teach you tips and tricks and things you didn’t even know. Pick up some reference books if you want and just give your camera a go.

Invest In Good Quality Lenses Of Different Kinds

Once you have learned the basics of photography, it is time to learn about different types of camera lenses and how they will benefit you in different ways. There are many lenses to choose from; from the simple wide-angle lens to zoom lens of varying focal lengths to macro lenses to telephoto lenses. Each lens is unique in the way it helps the photographer in taking the perfect picture.

Practice Makes Perfect

Once you have your technique and camera down, take it out for a spin. Practice taking pictures indoors and outdoors to learn about different angles and flattering lighting techniques. Take pictures of various objects, animals, and people. When it comes to people, try capturing candid moments as well as controlled, posed shots, as natural, candid moments can be even more beautiful. Learn about the effects and tricks in terms of camera movement and lighting. Only through trial and error will you learn and improve.

Get Adjusted In Manual Mode First

Every professional photographer knows all the nooks and crannies of their camera. To operate in manual mode, you first need to learn all the terms, such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Once you are accustomed to working your camera manually, you will be well aware of what you should do to improve your photograph.  Automatic mode is preferred by newly starting out photographers, but to show off your pro mode, you will need to adapt first to manual mode in your camera.

Mastering Lighting

Photography lighting is crucial to make your pictures pop. You can invest in external lighting for a small price or learn to tamper with your ISO for brighter pictures. External lighting gives added depth to the subject. Hence it is highly recommended by professional photographers especially if you are specializing in indoor photography. If you are a beginner, you can invest in an external flash to practice, and it is a lot cheaper than buying a light set, especially if you’re just starting out.

Learn Some Good Photo Editing Software

Editing a photo is not just a skill, it is an art. Editing is not the same as manipulation, but both can be used if absolutely necessary. Editing is the process of slightly changing the color, texture, clarity, and brightness of the image, whereas manipulation is the alteration of the image to change it from what it originally was completely. There are many software to choose from, the most popular ones being Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. There are even classes based on various editing software, or you can self-teach it yourself. The purpose of editing a photo is only to highlight specific areas or enhance the image. Most professionals don’t usually use or recommend it, but for artistic reasons, it is allowed.

Pick A Niche

If you are passionate about one particular niche of photography, then practice and learn more about it. If you’re into wildlife photography, wedding photography, or portrait photography, pick your specialty and try working hard to perfect it. Once you’ve mastered your specialty, you can give out your services to friends and family and eventually build your company. But don’t narrow down your opportunity that makes it hard to grow. Portrait photographers can also shoot wedding or commercial photographs.

In the end, if you have the passion, heart, and skill for photography, you can surely make it big in this creative industry and motivate all.