If you’re reading this article, you may find yourself wondering, how I can help my loved one get treatment? If someone you care about has an addiction, you may have found yourself in this situation. Here are five ways to help your loved ones get the help they need and deserve. This article will share five steps you can take that will make recovery more accessible to your loved ones and make them less likely to relapse after rehab.
One of the hardest aspects of helping an addict with their addiction problem is that addicts often aren’t aware that they have a problem at all, and this self-delusion leads them to reject any form of help outright.
1) Recognize the signs
2) Know the Reasons Why They are Reluctant
3) Acknowledge their problem
4) Don’t enable them
5) Get professional help
1. Recognize the signs
If you suspect someone you love is suffering from addiction, that’s good news—it means they’re still reachable. And it also means that you can identify and intervene on their behalf before it’s too late. The first step in helping an addict get treatment is recognizing what addiction looks like in your loved one. The signs of drug or alcohol abuse are easy to spot if you know what to look for: missed work, legal trouble, physical changes (like weight loss or chronic fatigue), secretive behavior, and social withdrawal are all red flags that should prompt further investigation into your loved one’s situation.
2. Know the Reasons Why They are Reluctant
It’s not uncommon for someone in denial about their addiction, or perhaps convinced they have it under control, to hesitate. This hesitation is usually born from fear of losing friends and family. That’s why it’s so important to know as much as you can about why your loved one may be reluctant, and how you can help them overcome that resistance. Only then will you be able to lead them down a path towards seeking treatment. For example, if you discover that your loved one doesn’t want to admit their problem because they feel like it would damage their reputation at work, focus on what they could gain by overcoming their addiction. For example: If you get clean now, you could avoid further consequences with work and set yourself up for success in your career.
3. Acknowledge their problem
You’re not responsible for your loved one’s addiction, but it’s important that you take it seriously. The first step is to acknowledge their problem, even if they aren’t willing or ready to do so themselves. If you truly care about them, it could be instrumental in helping them get clean and start healing.
It’s not your responsibility to do all of their work for them. Instead, you should support them as they work through their issues and ensure that they are taking steps toward recovery. It can be difficult and frustrating, but remember that confronting your loved one with facts is key if you want to be an effective supporter.
4. Don’t enable them
It’s possible that you may enable your loved ones by buying them their drug of choice or covering up their addiction so they don’t get in trouble. Both enable an addict to continue using, which helps keep them addicted. Instead, if you want your loved one to get help, encourage him or her to seek professional treatment.
Another factor to consider is that enabling can give you a false sense of security about your loved one’s addiction. It’s easy to think that because you helped him or her with their last high, everything will be OK. But that doesn’t help your loved one get better. In fact, it keeps them dependent on you, which prevents them from taking responsibility for their own recovery.
5. Get professional help
Addiction professionals have advanced training in identifying and treating addiction. They can help you convince your loved one to seek treatment. Your physician or primary care provider can refer you to an addiction specialist. You can also ask someone at your local addiction treatment centre in Bhubaneswar if he or she will provide a consultation with a client’s family member, as well as directly refer someone into rehab.
Ask your loved one’s friends and family members to be supportive of your efforts. They may have a better chance of getting through to your loved one than you do. If they agree, remind them that trying too hard can backfire and only reinforce negative behaviors. Let them know that their job is simply to support you as much as possible.
