The entire family is impacted when a person develops a drug or alcohol addiction. You could be a parent, brother or sister, or young person. Alternatively, you might be a friend. In either case, the use of drugs or alcohol by your loved one may be upsetting you. How can you support a loved one who is struggling with addiction?
No one approach works for everyone, but some general principles may be useful and can raise the likelihood that they will be flexible.
Your loved one’s use may have a variety of effects on you and your family. Continue reading to find out more about these side effects and how you can support someone in quitting drugs.
Encourage Them to Seek Help
The sooner addiction is treated, just like other diseases, the better. But don’t be shocked if you encounter denial or justifications for why they can’t or won’t seek treatment. You can encourage them by telling them about programs like iRecover or by showing them some of their website’s videos of people who have successfully overcome addiction. Be adamant about how crucial it is for them to begin addiction treatment, but do not make them feel ashamed or guilty in the process.
Holding an intervention for your loved one is an additional choice. An intervention might be precisely what the person needs if they are very far along in their addiction, even though these are frequently challenging to carry out. Think about hiring an interventionist to guide you through this procedure.
Learn More About Addiction
You know what you see. It’s simple to overlook the red flags that are straight in front of you unless you have knowledge of addiction and the signs of drug abuse.
Because addiction is so complicated, it’s okay if you don’t immediately understand everything. But you and your loved one will benefit greatly from taking the time to comprehend their illness and how it impacts them. It also makes it easier for you to recognize when a loved one needs assistance.
Manage Your Expectations
With such a real picture of what you wish to say and no preconceived notions of how they might react, enter the conversation. When faced with their addiction, it’s typical for people to become hostile, defensive, or to intensify their denial. No matter what they say, being ready for any response can assist you in remaining composed.
Even though they appear defensive at the time, they might later reflect on what you said, and your words may have an effect on them. Sometimes they won’t listen to you, and if they do, they decide to keep abusing drugs and alcohol. Even if you weren’t able to convince them to change, you can still feel better knowing that you made an effort to speak with them and step in.
Offer Your Assistance
Addicts frequently fail to recognize the love that their loved ones have for them. Don’t wait until your loved one is at their lowest point before expressing your concerns; instead, talk to them now. Tell them you’ll be there for them as they work toward recovery.
Encourage Ongoing Recovery Efforts
You must stay involved even before your loved one chooses to begin treatment. Keep encouraging them to attend meetings, receive ongoing care, and join support groups for addicts’ families. Be the pillar of support they require and demonstrate to them your commitment to being by their side at all times.
Ensure Your Wellbeing
Even though you might consider this selfish, it’s crucial that you can support yourself as well as make the best choices. Get the rest you need, exercise, and maintain a healthy diet to ensure that your needs are met. Don’t be afraid to seek therapy if you need assistance because of the drug abuse of a loved one.
Express Your Affection and Worry
Some addicts may feel compelled to become argumentative or separate themselves from scrutiny if others are overly aggressive or pragmatic. Always stress that your words are spoken from such a place of concern and love when speaking. Rather than getting mad, attacking them, or attempting to remorse or coerce them into stopping, do this instead. When dealing with teenagers or other young people, this can be particularly true. Instead, keep telling them that the only reason you are speaking to them is out of love and concern for their well-being.
Loving someone who is battling a drug or alcohol addiction can be challenging, painful, and difficult. You might be torn about whether or not to face them due to concerns that they’ll become hostile or defensive or that your arguments won’t be heard. It can be beneficial to pick the right moment, continue to show care and concern, control your expectations, and support your recovery efforts.