Loving a person with addiction problem is generally
frustrating, heartbreaking, and exhausting in some cases. Feeling frustrated
and resentment towards an addicted family member along with hope and compassion
is normal. People with family members struggling with addiction wonder how they
can support them overcome the problem. Trying to get help for an addicted
relative is not easy.
Fortunately, an addicted person has a greater chance of
beating addiction with support from their family members. Although every
situation is different, there are guidelines that can help you support your
loved one beat addiction.
Expect Difficulties
Addiction is just like other mental illnesses. According to research, individuals
that need help with mental health issues are not easy to convince to seek help.
Thus, supporting an addicted family member won’t be easy.
That’s because:
- They might not see addiction as a problem.
- They might not want to undergo behavioral change.
- They might fear consequences.
- They might feel embarrassed and even decline to discuss the problem with you.
- They might see it as a personal issue and feel awkward about discussing it with a professional.
- Addiction might be their way of avoiding dealing with other problems.
Basically, there is no easy and fast way to assist a family
member with addiction. Great determination and willpower combined with family
counseling are necessary to help a loved one beat addiction. Therefore, if a
family member doesn’t want to fight addiction, persuading them to seek
assistance might not work. Nevertheless, it’s possible to support them make
appropriate changes in their life and eventually beat addiction. Here are some
of the things you can do to support an addicted family member.
Establish Trust
This won’t be easy if the addicted family member has betrayed
the trust they had earned from you. Nevertheless, establishing trust will help
them consider changing their behaviors. Even when trying to assist, trust can
be undermined. Therefore, avoid criticizing, nagging, or lecturing an addicted
person. Don’t name call, yell, or exaggerate even when they stress you out. Also
avoid engaging in behaviors that can make you an addict.
Remember that you want to support your addicted family
member and not to control them. Some people use addictive substances to deal
with pressures and stresses in their lives. Therefore, don’t do things that can
stress them further. Don’t forget that most addicted individuals change when
their behavior has some consequences. Therefore, don’t be overprotective unless
their actions pose a risk to them or other people.
Seek Help First
Maintaining a relationship with an addicted person is
stressful. Therefore, accept that you are enduring stress and seek help to
manage it. Family therapy can help you and your addicted loved one. Both you
and your loved one need help to manage the addiction problem. Therefore, seek
help whether you are supporting a family member that has not undergone formal
treatment or a person that is already in recovery and relapsing. Understand addiction
and the available resources for supporting the addicted loved one. This will
empower you to make informed decisions and equip you with the right information
to guide you in supporting your addicted loved one.
Be Compassionate
The major reason for supporting an addicted family member is
to ensure that they do not feel cut off and alone. This feeling can compel them
to abuse the addictive substance more. Compassion is a great motivator that you
can use to encourage your addicted family member to seek assistance. Being
compassionate will make a loved one feel comfortable and open up with ease. It
will also make them understand the effect of their actions on the other family
members. Social support and empathy are crucial in getting a loved one into
treatment and convincing them to stay in recovery.
Among the major ways
to show compassion include:
- Asking open questions
- Trying to understand addiction together
- Acknowledging pain
- Emphasizing concern and care
- Attending family therapy sessions
Encourage Healthy Behaviors
When battling addiction, a person can have a decline in
mental health, physical health and poor hygiene. Anxiety and depression are
some of the mental health problems that addiction can exacerbate. Encouraging a
loved one to seek treatment for such health issues will enable them to
comprehend the impact of addiction on their life. Encourage them to embrace
healthy dietary habits, structured environment, and exercise. This will help
them lead a healthier lifestyle and even seek treatment.
Consider Co-occurring Disorders
The National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that the possibility of being
diagnosed with mental illness doubles in individuals with substance abuse
disorder. Occurrence of more than one illness or disorder in a person is called
comorbidity. A family member might be willing to discuss their anxiety or
depression with a professional or you than talk about their use of an addictive
substance. This is an easier way to get them help that will eventually lead to
change in behavior.
Be Positive
Addiction can ruin relationships, families and friends. Unfortunately,
it’s a chronic illness that can last for the rest of the life of the addicted
individual. The risk of relapsing will always linger. As such, it might not be
easy to be hopeful. However, addiction can be treated. Although it doesn’t have
a cure, individuals stay in their lifelong recovery journey even after
relapsing. Without hope, there are minimal recovery chances though the addict is
capable of sustaining a meaningful and healthy life. Therefore, be positive and
convince a loved one that they can beat addiction and lead a healthy life.
The Bottom Line
Addiction of a single family member affects their sober
loved ones too. Most addicted family members do not accept to seek help immediately
despite the fact that it affects everyone. As such, it’s important to attend a family
rehabilitation center therapy to understand the problem and the best ways to
support the addicted family member. What’s more, you need patience, education
and empathy to support an addicted family member. Understand that without
support and optimism, a family member will have a hard time beating addiction
and sustaining lifelong recovery.
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