Dos and Don’ts of Helping Someone Through Addiction
Dos and Don’ts of Helping Someone Through Addiction
It is heartbreaking to watch someone you love, being in the grips of addiction. You want to do everything you can to help them get through this tough time, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. If you have a loved one who is recovering from addiction, there are ways you can support them through the process. Throughout this article, we will discuss some approaches you can adopt while offering support to a recovering addict.
Do: Be Compassionate
One of the most important reminders while helping someone through their addiction recovery is to be compassionate towards them and their struggles. Remember that addiction is a disease and the ones suffering from it require the same level of compassion and support as someone having a physical illness.
They are trying very hard to make changes in their life and your encouragement will only motivate them further. Therefore, express compassion towards them through your words and actions. That is why enrolling them in an outpatient rehab center like Lantana Recovery center allows you to be close with them during their treatment.
Don’t: Pass Judgements
Reserve your judgments or harsh remarks as it can shatter their confidence and might lead to them relapsing. Remember shame and criticism will only keep them trapped in the cycle of self-loathing, hence impacting their progress.
They are already battling negative thoughts and emotions and your judgments or blames will only make things difficult for them.
Do: Educate Yourself
All of this might be new to you and you might be having a hard time navigating their journey. But learning about their condition and the possible treatment options for their addiction can prove very beneficial.
The more you know, the better you will be able to understand their situation and show up for them with empathy and compassion.
Don’t: Enable The Usage
All in all, your loved one is going through a very tough time right now; help them as much as possible without enabling their behavior. Enabling the person’s addiction by giving them money for drugs means that they don’t have to work for their fix.
They will use all of their time looking for more drugs or spending the money buying more of their drug of choice without worrying about where the money came from. Remember, giving people with addictions money so they can buy drugs only helps the addiction get worse, which makes it harder for them to recover.
Do: Seek Counseling
Seeing someone struggling with their addiction can be traumatizing and have negative effects on your well-being. If you are feeling these negative effects, it is important to seek the support of a therapist so you don’t suffer more than necessary.
Don’t be afraid of talking about how you feel especially if your addicted loved one has children. Making sure that they understand how you feel will help them avoid feelings of guilt and shame plus paves the way for them to admit their problem before things get worse.
Don’t: Expose Them to Triggers
Help your loved ones avoid places where they used to get high or drunk. This means bars, people, old rituals, etc. Alcohol was often used as a coping mechanism in their lives so it is best to not put them in situations when they are under the influence.
It may seem like having fun but really it can be very dangerous for someone just coming out of rehab. They could slip up and this will only jeopardize their recovery process.
Do: Have Patience
Be patient with them – recovery takes time and patience plays a large role in the overall process of sobriety. Be there for them. Recovering from addiction is an extremely difficult process not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. Because of this, and in order to relieve some of the burden of what it is to help someone through addiction, you should consider getting help from Vertical Treatment Centers where they can provide the proper care for your loved one in order for them to have a successful recovery from addiction
If you have a loved one who has been suffering from substance abuse, be there for them throughout this journey. They will need you now more than ever as they overcome their struggles with addiction, so do your best to stay by their side through it all.
Don’t: Forget to Prioritize Your Well-Being
As you support someone on their sobriety journey, do not forget to prioritize your well-being, since you can only help others if you are in a good place yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. Don’t forget to take care of whatever emotions come up for you during the process because without taking care of yourself, you can’t be there for someone else.
Do: Maintain A Positive Environment
Avoid having too many emotional conversations or arguments with your addicted loved one, especially during this difficult time in their life. Keep things as low-key and un-stressfully as possible by not discussing sensitive topics like their addiction, past mistakes, etc since some may find them triggering.
You have to understand that addiction is progressive. If someone you care about has an addiction, it will only get worse if they try to stop on their own. They may need help, but this doesn’t mean you should give up on them or let them suffer alone—that will just make things worse.