You may find it hard to watch someone close to you struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. There can also be a sense of helplessness when you don’t understand what to do. We know how overwhelming it can become to see your loved ones struggling. To help you in this regard, we’ll discuss the signs of drug and alcohol abuse and methods for dealing with a loved one suffering from substance use disorder. Further, we will discuss the challenges associated with helping them and how to overcome those challenges.
It’s important to realize that discontinuing substance use is a complex process. Drug or alcohol abuse can affect self-control. By using drugs or alcohol repeatedly, certain parts of the brain function differently, making it difficult to stop or control compulsive behavior. Moreover, it is also essential to know that you cannot make them quit on your own, but there are ways you can boost their motivation and enable them to stop.
How Can You Help Someone Who Is Addicted?
It is impossible to know how to approach your friend who has a drug addiction. However, there are specific approaches that you can take if you want to help a friend or a loved one struggling with addiction. For instance, you can talk with them, take them to some reputable rehab or drug detox center such as the Serenity at Summit, or seek medical and psychological assistance. We’ll now look at ways you can help your friend or loved one fight addiction.
Talk with them
You should talk to your loved ones when they’re sober. They may not comprehend the matter if they are on drugs during the discussion. Sometimes a heart-to-heart conversation is the best therapy your loved one can have so, plan a time when just the two of you can talk. Share your concerns, but don’t forget this is a two-way conversation. Listen to your loved one’s thoughts and give them time to express themselves. The point is to raise awareness about their addiction and suggest treatment options, such as time spent as part of this intensive outpatient program austin (or elsewhere more relevant), not blame them for anything.
Develop Trust
After a loved one has abused your confidence, it cannot be easy to regain and retain it. As a result, the first step in assisting someone with an addiction to consider change is establishing mutual trust.
Trust can be easily undermined no matter how hard you try to help. As you consider talking to your loved one about their addiction, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
The views differ
Your loved one may assume you are attempting to dominate them, despite your best intentions. Because of these sensations, people who are addicted may indulge in their addiction even more.
Stress can cause problems to worsen
Stress is probably the cause of your loved one’s addictive behavior (at least in part). In stressful circumstances, they may engage in addictive behavior more, not less. Even studies show that stress can lead to addiction.
Trust is a two-way street
The process of building trust involves both parties. If you continue to tolerate unwanted behavior, it won’t help build trust. Don’t forget that it takes two to tango, so if you wish to see your loved one recover, speak up about their inappropriate behavior.
Consequences have a role to play
It is rare for people struggling with addiction to change until they suffer the consequences of their addictive behavior. Therefore, despite the desire to protect your loved ones, you should resist the urge to shield them from the consequences of their actions.
Select the best treatment option
Various types of treatment are used to treat addiction at facilities like those provided at the Iboga Treatment Center. If you are currently involved in the treatment of a loved one…
- Establish trust by working hard. Before you go to counseling with your friend or family member, make sure they are comfortable.
- Feel free to express your emotions. Whenever you have concerns about a loved one’s addiction, make sure you tell them what it has been like for you.
- Counsel your loved ones without accusing, criticizing, or humiliating them. Be honest about your experiences.
- Expect to be blamed. It is not surprising if your loved one tells you that things you have done or said have contributed to their addiction. Be open-minded and listen to them.
You can support your loved one’s compliance with treatment if they choose to do so on their own:
- Keep their privacy in mind. Don’t tell anyone about your loved one’s treatment without consent.
- Don’t invade their privacy during therapy. You shouldn’t force them to tell you what happened if they don’t want to.
- Be patient. Addiction can be treated in many ways, but no one gets better overnight. Therefore, you need to be tolerant.
A Final Word!
If your loved one struggles with substance use disorders, you can take steps to help them while caring for yourself. Rather than forcing your loved ones to change, you can support them during treatment and encourage them to get help. However, in the entire process of helping your loved one recover, don’t forget to look after your health too. Because to cope with their recovery process, you have to be healthy too.
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