You can help your loved one struggling with addiction in many ways, and it might be easier than you think. You don’t have to face their struggles alone, but rather encourage them to seek professional help for their addiction. Here are tips for how to make your addicted loved one see the importance of professional help for their addiction.
Be a Supportive Partner
You can have a huge impact on the way your loved one feels about seeking professional help. This means always being supportive and encouraging them, no matter how hard it is to watch your loved one suffer. Show that you understand their struggles and want the best for them. Help them to feel more confident in themselves when they want to seek help, but don’t push them into doing so too quickly.
Help Them Connect the Dots
Addiction is a progressive disease, meaning your loved one likely hasn’t realized they have a problem yet. It’s not until they “connect the dots” that they may realize how much of a problem it has become. You can do this by helping them see what their behaviors are doing to you and other people in their life. By discussing it openly and honestly, you can help them gain a better insight into what is going on.
Be Available for Support
When your loved one decides to seek professional help for their addiction, they will likely be scared, nervous, and unsure of themselves. They might feel many different emotions that are difficult to deal with simultaneously. Help them through it by being available for support throughout the entire process. For instance, make them understand that substance abuse treatment is a long journey, not a quick fix.
Encourage Them to Strive for Better Things
It’s hard to see your loved ones suffer from their addiction, but it’s even harder when they can’t seem to do anything about it. Help them begin to feel better by encouraging them to be more productive and strive for better things in their lives. Start by helping them create goals and look forward to what they want in the future, rather than simply dwelling on the bad things that have happened in the past.
Volunteer to Help Out
If your loved one decides to get treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab center, you can volunteer to help out in the meantime. Work with the rehab center staff to find ways to volunteer that feel right for you. This will not only show your loved ones that you care about them, but it will also allow you to meet new people, which can also benefit your life.
It’s not easy to watch your loved one suffer from an addiction. However, with the proper support and encouragement, you can help them decide to get professional help for their addiction. Start by supporting their decision and working with them toward better things in life.
About the author:
Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2