In many ways, addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. Because drug and alcohol addictions create so much pain for those around them, helping friends and family members to recover from physical dependence becomes a priority for many loved ones.
However, when a family member or friend has an addiction problem, it can be difficult to help without feeling overwhelmed by frustration and anger. While not everyone will have to deal with this problem in their personal lives, anyone can benefit from understanding how to assist someone who’s struggling with addiction. The following are recommendations you can follow to help your loved one find sobriety.
Know the treatment options
The very first thing you can do is to learn as much as possible about drug and alcohol treatment. Learning the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab, understanding common addiction treatments like therapy and medication, and knowing where to find affordable care is key. You can click here to get more information.
Remain non-judgmental when listening to your loved one’s stories
If you want someone to open up and tell you how he or she feels, it only makes sense that the same rule applies when helping an addict with their problems. You can’t force a person into recovery if they don’t see what you see. If you’re judgmental, hypocritical, and unreasonable about the situation, your loved one will almost certainly close off instead of opening up to you.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everything will be sunshine and rainbows during the process of getting clean. You should address any problematic behavior straightforwardly while remaining calm and composed.
Discuss your fears with your loved one
During this process, you may become afraid that your family member or friend might relapse and put himself in danger if he’s allowed to continue using. You might even feel like it would be better for everyone if they moved out. The truth is that no one likes living with an addict; however, forcing someone into rehabilitation can create a sense of desperation that sends them running back right into the arms of drugs.
To make matters worse, addicts often put up a façade to cover up their addiction, and you might find yourself wondering if your loved one is lying about his problems. One way to deal with these issues during this process is to communicate regularly and calmly identify any potential threats without inciting anger or resentment. This way, both of you can feel more comfortable about continuing the course of treatment.
Offer encouragement without playing ‘expert’ on addiction or recovery
One of the most important things for a family member or friend who’s helping someone through rehab is maintaining open communication between them and their loved one. During these discussions, remember that offering support is usually more helpful than pretending you know exactly what your loved one needs to beat addiction. You don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to listen and offer encouragement.
Don’t promise something you can’t deliver
When offering help or encouragement for someone trying to fight off addiction, it’s important not to make promises that may turn out to be empty words if the person doesn’t feel supported during this process. You don’t want your loved one feeling guilty or resentful because he felt like he wasn’t supported during this time in their life.
Instead of making promises that might end up hurting him more than helping him, simply offer support by following through with what you say. A little trust goes a long way toward boosting your loved one’s confidence in recovery.
Recognize small accomplishments along the way
One thing family members and friends forget during treatment is that recovering addicts need hope along with encouragement. It’s important to recognize small accomplishments, no matter how big or small they might seem.
After all, if this person has had any addiction issues before, it’s possible that he or she doesn’t feel very confident about their potential for success. Instead of focusing on the end goal (i.e., total sobriety), point out each milestone as you pass it, so your recovering loved one can see just how far they’ve come instead of thinking about everything they stand to lose by relapsing again.
Above all else, remember that addiction recovery takes time. This process might seem agonizingly slow at times, especially when you see your loved one suffering from the side effects of withdrawal or struggling to fight off cravings. Recognize that this process is a marathon, not a sprint; but with your support and the loved one’s commitment, it will end in success.