How to Assist Someone You Know Who is Struggling with Addiction.
You may be wondering how you might assist a friend or relative struggling with addiction. To be clear, deciding whether to provide drug addiction treatment or treatment for another sort of addiction is not always easy. However, with your help, your loved one will have a better chance of overcoming addiction.
This article explains ways to assist someone who is finding it hard to stop. It contains ideas that you can take to help a friend or loved one struggling with substance misuse.
1. Locate and Obtain Addiction Support for Addicts' Families
It's difficult to be in a relationship with someone who has an addiction. It's critical that you acknowledge that what you're going through is difficult and that you seek help.
It's also beneficial to acquire stress management methods while considering treating an addict.
This is a critical first step in assisting your loved one. It also helps you deal with the pressures you'll likely face while allowing a friend or family member to seek and receive addiction treatment.
2. Find a Strategy That Works
There are a variety of therapy approaches that can be helpful, so it's crucial to weigh your options. Consider which strategy is best for your needs and aspirations, as well as those of your loved one.
Treatment may include counselling, medication, support groups, or a combination of these, depending on the nature of the addiction. Among the possibilities are:
• CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training): CRAFT is an evidence-based strategy for assisting families in obtaining treatment for addicted relatives. Traditional interventions, such as counselling, have been displaced as the primary approach of helping people with addiction get the care they need.
• Drugs: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications for the treatment of alcoholism and other substance use disorders, including Vivitrol (naltrexone), Campral (acamprosate), and Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone).
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): CBT-based addiction treatment aims to help people understand how their thoughts and feelings influence their actions. It works by assisting people in altering the mental and behavioural patterns that lead to addiction.
• Internet therapy: According to research, online therapy can be an effective treatment option for substance abuse disorders. CBT and motivational interviewing, which involves utilizing organized talks to assist people to think about how their lives will be better if they stop using, are frequently used in such programs.
• Support groups: 12-step and peer support groups can be beneficial during the rehabilitation process. These organizations work to promote sobriety through several methods. Some advocate for complete abstinence, while others advocate for moderation. Many of these have in-person meetings, but there are also online support groups.
3. Expect Several other significant elements that might influence difficulties.
There are various reasons why assisting someone you care about who has an illness can be challenging.
• They may not recognize that they have a problem;
• They may be unwilling to change their behaviour.
• Thet might be afraid of the consequences (e.g., losing their job or going to prison)
• They may be embarrassed and unwilling to talk to you about their addiction (or anyone else)
• They may be hesitant to share personal matters with professionals, such as doctors or counsellors.
• They may use their addiction to avoid dealing with another issue (such as mental illness)
There is no quick or simple solution to assist someone suffering from an addiction. Overcoming addiction requires a great deal of effort and support. Trying to persuade someone to get treatment if they refuse to change their conduct is unlikely to succeed. What you can do is make efforts to assist your loved one in making long-term improvements. It's also critical that you acquire the help you require to cope.
4. Build a foundation of trust
It might not be easy to reclaim and keep your trust if a loved one has once betrayed it. However, creating mutual trust is a crucial first step in assisting someone with an addiction to consider the change.
• Stay Away from These People Who Will Ruin Your Trust
• Yelling, name-calling, and exaggerating
• Engaging in addictive behaviours yourself, even in moderation, which might be interpreted as hypocrisy
Even when you are attempting to help, trust is readily betrayed. When considering talking to a loved one about their addiction, there are a few things to consider.
5. Effective Communication
You may be eager to tell your loved one how you feel about the problems their addiction has caused, and you may have a strong desire to persuade them to change. Learning how to communicate effectively with someone addicted is essential to having a good conversation.
While it may be aggravating, keep in mind that the choice to change is theirs. If you communicate honestly and without being intimidating, a person with an addiction is considerably more inclined to consider a change.
