Would you like your loved one or friend struggling with alcohol and drug addiction to recover? If yes, you need to understand that it’s often a heartbreaking and long journey. In some cases, the situation gets so overwhelming. And as a result, most people find ignoring the circumstance as the only solution.
Nonetheless, overlooking the issue may damage the one you are concerned about, your family, and yourself. Without a doubt, this situation may be painful. It’s therefore vital that you take some time to encourage your loved one to seek the help they need.
With your support, they have a higher chance of reversing their addiction. Since every situation is unique, below are some general guidelines that can help.
Guidelines for Helping Someone with a Drug Addiction
Offering assistance to a loved one fighting substance use isn’t straightforward. There is no magic formula that can get your loved one to quit abusing drugs. Nevertheless, here are some ideas regarding how you can help your loved one acquire the necessary treatment for addiction.
Educate Yourself on Drug Addiction
Note that you can only see what you know. Without some new knowledge about drug abuse symptoms and addiction, you’ll easily miss some signs that are right before you. Addiction is composite. Thus, it’s okay not to know everything immediately.
However, it’s beneficial to both your loved one and you if you take the time to understand their problem and how it influences them. It also increases your awareness regarding the signs that your loved one needs assistance.
Offer Your Support
People fighting addiction tend not to understand how much their friends and family love them. Always talk to them about your concerns. Don’t speak up after they hit rock bottom. As they journey towards recovery, let them be aware of your support.
Encourage Them to Seek Help
Just like with other illnesses, it’s better if the addiction is treated early. Nonetheless, don’t be surprised if they display some denial and excuses for not seeking treatment. Try to be persistent. Inform them about the importance of recovering from their addiction. Simultaneously, do it in a way that doesn’t make them feel ashamed or guilty.
Alternatively, you may conduct an intervention for them. Sometimes, especially in deep addiction, a response is just what your loved one needs. Consider hiring an intervention specialist as they know how to steer the process.
Support Recovery as a Continuous Process
Immediately your loved one agrees to pursue treatment; you must stay involved. Continue supporting your loved one during participation in meetings, ongoing care, and recovery support groups. Try to offer them as much love as possible. Be there for them in every step of their recovery journey.
Take Care of Yourself
Well, this may seem selfish. However, you must make the best decisions even as you offer support to others. Eat well, exercise, get adequate sleep, and ensure all your other needs are met.
If you find yourself suffering and struggling because of your loved one’s situation, don’t hesitate to go for therapy. If you take care of yourself, you’ll be able to cater to your loved one’s needs.
In case of a relapse
With professional help from Doctors, therapists, and support from family and friends, a person trying to recover from addiction may succeed. Even so, the threat of relapse may seem to begin looming. Consequently, this can bring about stress for your loved one, who just completed a rehabilitation program.
Symptoms may worsen with time, just like other diseases. Take, for instance, people with asthma and diabetes. Their treatments are effective for some time before their symptoms progress.
But, such cases don’t mean you give up. Instead, your loved one should head back to the doctor to develop a new treatment regimen.
They should work to avoid it, but in the case of a relapse, returning to treatment is wise. It only gets worse when your loved one fails to report the problem and refuses to seek help.
As you explore treatment options, always ask how the program handles relapse. Many rehabilitation programs pair new members with sponsors who have already been through the program. Such people know better about the recovery process and offer extra support to a person tempted to relapse.
The addiction recovery process always varies with different types of treatment. If you involve yourself in your loved one’s treatment:
• Be honest about your feelings
• Be prepared for blame
• Work on building trust
• Do not humiliate, criticize or blame them
Ready to get started? Our counselors are available 24/7. Call 833-820-2922.