It’s hard to watch someone you care about struggle with addiction. It’s even harder when you know they’re making unhealthy choices and don’t know how to help them.
Addiction is a disease that affects the whole family, and it can be difficult for loved ones to find ways to support them through this time.
We’ve assembled some tips from experts in addiction treatment as well as people who have been there themselves on what you can do when supporting a loved one struggling with this disease:
Remember that you can’t force someone to get help
You can’t make someone get help. You can’t force someone to change. You can’t force someone to stop using drugs or drinking alcohol.
It’s not up to you if other people get sober; that decision is theirs alone. It may sound harsh, but we’re all responsible for ourselves and our choices.
Be honest and direct in your conversations
If you’re supporting someone suffering from an ongoing addiction, it’s important to be honest and direct in your conversations with them.
You need to make sure that they know what you think and feel, as well as what you want from them.
It can be difficult to express our true feelings when we’re worried about hurting someone else’s feelings or making them angry with us. But it’s essential that we do so if we want our loved ones to get better.
The more open we are about our needs and boundaries, the easier it will be for everyone involved–including yourself!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Your loved one is struggling with addiction, and it’s okay for you to ask for help.
If possible, seek an interventionist or therapist specializing in treating addiction issues. Hollywood Hills Recovery Center has plenty of professionals that are ready and willing to help.
These professionals are trained specifically to work with people struggling with substance abuse problems.
Be prepared to carry your own responsibilities
You need to be prepared to carry your own load of responsibilities and tasks while the person is still struggling.
This is because they won’t be able to help you with anything else, so if you try to do everything yourself (and save them), then it will just add more stress onto their plate.
Don’t try being a hero, either. Instead, spend time supporting each other and helping one another through this difficult time together in whatever way works best for both parties involved.
Give yourself healthy outlets when you need them
When you’re trying to support someone struggling with addiction, it can be easy to get caught up in the negative emotions that come along with the situation.
You might feel angry or frustrated, which is normal, but it’s important not to let those feelings take over your life.
Give yourself healthy outlets when you need them, whether that means talking with friends or family members about what’s happening or taking some time for yourself.
If possible, find ways to distract yourself from thinking about the person’s addiction by going out for dinner with friends or watching a movie together to escape reality for just a few hours.
Listen without judgment
If the person wants to talk about his or her addiction issues, listen without judgment. Keep the details of these conversations private or between the two of you only.
It can be hard to hear some of what they say, but if you truly want them to trust you, you need to allow them to feel like they can say how they feel without any repercussions.
Accept things you can’t control
You can’t control the addict’s behavior, only your own. The addict will do whatever they want and make their own choices.
You can’t make them stop using drugs or alcohol, but you can decide not to enable them by supporting their addiction in any way.
You cannot control what other people do either. Some people will support an addict, and others won’t. You also don’t know what kind of support they need from others for them to get better.
Conclusion
Remember that you can’t force someone to get help. You can only offer support and encouragement, but ultimately it’s up to the person with the addiction to decide whether or not they want recovery.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by what this person is going through, remember that healthy outlets are available for you, too. Also, don’t forget to get help when you need it.
