At Next Level recovery, found in Salt Lake City, we are an outpatient addiction treatment program that is customized to the individual needs of those involved with addiction. Battling through an addiction is a mentally, physically and emotionally tiring time. The way you act around people struggling with addiction, whether it’s alcohol addiction or substance abuse, can be crucial to their recovery. However, although you can be very influential, you aren’t in control of their addiction. Here are a few suggestions to know what you can and can’t do when a loved one is struggling with an addiction.
You Can’t Make Them Quit
No matter how much you love them, or how hard you try, you can’t be the one to cure an addiction. Even after an intervention, putting a loved one through an effective addiction treatment center or being a great support and example, you can’t force someone to quit their addiction or speed up the process. An addiction can be overwhelming and all consuming, and expecting a loved one to stop their addiction because they love you, is unrealistic and unfair. Stay a support, but understand that you cannot fix their problem, they must be willing to do it on their own.
You Can Get Educated
You can’t fight an enemy you don’t understand. Communicate with your loved one who is struggling with an addiction and with their treatment workers. Learn about the addiction –the signs, relapse triggers, treatments etc. Get educated and understand the addiction. This will be of great help to not only you, but also those struggling with addiction.
You Can Be a Great Communicator
Talking with your loved ones won’t take away their addiction, but will be very helpful in the road to recovery. Work on building a great relationship without judging or accusing. When a loved one is going through an addiction, whether it is substance abuse or alcohol addiction, they need support and love, not shame. Find a way to communicate their hardships but also learn how to be a support.
We understand that addiction can be painful to everyone associated with addiction. There is hope and empowerment in understanding what you can do to best help yourself, and your love one who is battling with an addiction.
Sources
http://www.castlecraig.co.uk/resources/help-advice/coping-addiction/how-help-someone
