When you love someone and they have an addiction it can be incredibly stressful and frustrating. You can see clearly that they are losing control. All you want to do is to help them. But helping a loved one overcome addiction is not easy. They are in love with a substance or an impulse and anything you say or do won’t persuade them to take a stance. Your loved one has to make that choice themselves.
However, in saying this, you can show your loved one support and empathy to help them overcome addiction. Let’s look at how to help someone overcome addiction now.
Step #1 To Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction – Read as much as you can
Educating yourself about drug abuse and addiction can help you to make sense of what is happening. You’ll also distinguish fact from fiction. And you’ll have a much better understanding of what your loved one is experiencing.
Step #2 To Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction – Don’t wait around to help
The signs of addiction are:
- Changes in behaviour or personality.
- Bloodshot eyes.
- Frequent nose bleeds.
- The shakes.
- Changes in daily routine.
- Poor hygiene.
If you notice these signs, then it’s time to seek out help. Don’t wait, as the addiction will continue to get worse. The sooner you and your loved one get help, the quicker you’ll get on the road to recovery.
Step #3 To Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction – Avoid Enabling
Helping a loved one overcome addiction means providing support and seeking out ways to resolve the problem. Enabling, on the other hand, means doing the task that your loved one would normally do if they were not addicted. Therefore, enabling tries to cover up the problem with you making excuses or protecting your loved one from the consequences of their actions.
It is essential that you recognise the difference between helping and enabling so that you and your loved one can find resolution. Otherwise you may find yourself caught in a cycle of codependency, where your loved one has an excessive reliance on you for additional support.
Step #4 To Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction – Reach out to an expert
While you may think that you can deal with addiction yourself, often the truth is you and your loved one will need professional advice. Reaching out to an expert will enable you and your loved one to start talking openly and honestly about the addiction. Plus, you’ll be able to assess the level of addiction and develop a treatment plan for recovery.
If you’re not sure where to start, then visit your local doctor. Often your GP is an excellent resource of information. They are able to refer you to experts who can provide you with the support needed to work your way through any challenges you may face.
If your loved one is addicted to a substance then you may wish to seek out detox programs. These are a step-by-step process that cleanse the body and help you to manage withdrawal. The process can take days or months depending on the severity of the addiction.
Step #5 To Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction – Seek Out Support
Addiction comes in many forms. There are substance addictions, gaming addictions, shopping addictions and even mobile phone addictions and sex addictions. Whatever the type of addiction, the first step to recovery is acknowledging that there is a problem, and that you and your family need support.
This support typically comes in the form of family programs, which provide you, your loved one and the rest of the family with the tools to empower recovery. Often drug and alcohol addiction stems from deeper issues, such as trauma. Therefore, having a strong family connection can let you work through any underlying issues.
Helping A Loved One Overcome Addiction Key Takeaways
Helping a loved one overcome addiction is challenging. When tackling such a problem it is vital that you remember your own health and wellbeing. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help yourself and to have those difficult conversations. The road to recovery starts with open and honest communication and speaking out.
Just to recap, helping a loved one overcome addiction can take place by:
- Read as much as you can – do research to recognise the signs of addiction and to understand how you can help. When dealing with addiction there are many ways that can help, and also hinder. It’s crucial that you know the difference between the two.
- Don’t wait to help– if you notice the signs of addiction, then help immediately. Don’t put it off otherwise the problem could escalate.
- Avoid enabling – recognise the difference between help and enabling so you and your loved one get on the road to recovery quicker.
- Reach out to an expert – you cannot do this alone. Open up and start talking to professionals who can help you and your loved one. While initially it will be difficult once you get over that hurdle you’ll be grateful and won’t look back.
- Seek out support – family programs help you and your loved one connect and work through any issues that relate to the addiction. These enable you to develop a deeper bond and for you to also get the emotional support that you need.
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