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Having a family member, friend, or spouse struggling with addiction can be overwhelming. Your feelings will easily go from worry to fear within a short span. You will worry about their safety, be scared when they go out, and feel uncomfortable when they are left alone. You need to take action and help them overcome the addiction. However, this is not an easy path to walk. The concerned person may not be willing to get this help at first. What can you do to help your loved one point out and finally overcome their addiction? Here are a few pointers.
Get More Information
If your loved one is struggling with alcoholism, you need to find out everything about this condition. If it is a specific substance, you will need to know all the symptoms, treatment options, and what you can do about the condition.
Taking time to do research is good because you will know what to do and when to do it. For instance, by researching symptoms you will know critical symptoms to look out for and get medical attention as soon as necessary.
Understanding what addiction is and how it affects your loved one will give you the push you need to keep going even when things get tough. You can find out more about addiction by reading books and online resources.
Help Them Identify the Problem
The hardest part of all this is getting an addict to admit that they are addicted. They may be reliant on a substance but they will never admit to it. The problem is that you will not get far with helping them unless they agree that they are sick (addiction is an illness).
There are several ways to make an addict aware of their addiction. The simplest is by talking to them. Find a relaxed place where you can discuss his or her reliance on a particular substance and explain how this is affecting the person. The best approach is to make this conversation casual yet serious. The person should not feel like you are judging them. They should feel your care and compassion through this discussion. Avoid words that make them feel guilty.
Working with a medical professional is also a good choice. You book an appointment for the concerned person and inform the doctor early on about the addiction problem. The doctor will perform a general checkup and point out what the effects of the substance being abused are. Coming from a professional, your loved one will understand the seriousness of the situation.
Another way is to organize an intervention. This will involve gathering the people who mean a lot to the concerned person and planning a seat-down with professionals. The family and friends will express their concerns to the addicts while the professionals (doctors and psychologists) will help the person look at the situation from an informed point of view.
Offer Emotional Support
Your loved one needs to know that you love him or her. Do not look away when they talk to you or show signs of disgust at their disheveled look. Instead, show them love and understanding. Do not add to their emotional stress but be a support system when they need it.
There is a very thin line between providing support and encouraging addiction. Be careful not to be the one feeding their addiction. Do not buy them the drugs or give them monetary support that could finance the acquisition of the drugs. Do not allow the addicted person to manipulate you. They may use lies and instill guilt to get you to help them. Have a firm stand and only do what helps them get better, not worse.
Enroll for Rehabilitation
Beating an addiction is difficult and doing it without the necessary care is even harder. Do not let your loved one fight addiction at home. Instead, enroll them in a rehabilitation center of their choice. Here, they will be slowly weaned off the drug and be freed of it by the end of the given time. They will also be introduced to other interests and skills that are useful and keep them busy to avoid relapses.
The rehabilitation center you choose for your loved one should have a proven track record. It should have a qualified team that helps addicts get holistic healing. A good example is the Bay Area Recovery Center which is a family-owned rehabilitation center in Texas. Here you will find nurses, psychologists, physicians, and other professionals all working to help addicts get better. They help alcoholics and addicts of various drugs get better. The center that has been around since 1992 has stood the test of time and continues to help addicts get better.
Bottom Line
It is possible to help a loved one with drug or alcohol addiction. Doing this will benefit the person and the people who surround them. While doing the above, do not forget to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, socialize and take care of yourself. As much as your loved one is a priority, do not forget yourself. If you feel overwhelmed by the situation, seek therapy.
