It might be shocking to read that approximately one out of ten American citizens have recovered from drug abuse problems, which means there’s a good chance that you already know someone trying to overcome addiction.
Who knows, maybe it’s one of your family members, spouse, friends, or neighbors. It will be tricky to determine the best approach to support such members of society due to the stigma surrounding addiction and treatment.
Whatever happens, recovery will be challenging without the support and help of a loved one. In fact, when withdrawal sets in, things will get more challenging than they already are.
So, imagine this; a family member, friend, or loved one might be on the brink of relapse, and your help and support is the only thing that can help them stay on the road to recovery.
What should be your role when helping a friend, family member, or loved one recovering from addiction? Let’s find out.
Encourage them to get help
Just like any other sickness or disease, the sooner you get it treated, the quicker you’ll see the results. But don’t let it come as a shock to you if your loved one makes excuses as to why they can’t or won’t go for treatment.
Try to remain as persistent as possible and share the benefits and advantages of addiction treatment with them.
In addition, be their friend and take them to an addiction recovery center like Palm Beach Institute for speeding up their treatment and recovery process.
The professionals who work in these recovery centers have years of experience treating patients with all sorts of addiction problems.
Knowing your loved one is in good hands will give you peace of mind, and they’ll be back on the road to recovery sooner than you think.
Interact with them in a kind and supportive manner
When interacting with anyone overcoming addiction, interact with them as much as possible to make the transition easier. Moreover, do it in a loving and supportive way.
For example, if you’re looking after a friend, family member, or loved one battling addiction, avoid accusatory remarks at all costs. It will only make them more conservative, and they probably won’t consider sharing their thoughts with you.
Instead of asking about what substances gave them the best high, ask more subtle questions such as, ‘you don’t appear to be happy for the past couple of days; did something go wrong?’
Taking a positive and meaningful approach will make them more responsive and open to sharing their problems with you.
Show them your love
A loved one trying to overcome drug abuse issues will not react well to you when you’re trying to reach out and offer support.
This is a typical issue with drug addicts, as they feel vulnerable and defensive when trying to quit. In fact, your loved one might think you’re judgmental about the way they lived their lives and for the lifestyle adopted.
Reaffirm that you’re trying to help them out for their benefit. Give examples and tell them how drug abuse s can cause serious harm to their health and ruin their life in the long haul.
In the end, show them compassion and love by dedicating more of your time and effort to their recovery.
Don’t treat them like kids or control their lives
You must show your loved ones the same level of respect you would show to someone who isn’t addicted to drugs. So, hold them accountable for their actions and support them like adults, not like children.
If you treat them like children, it’ll get on their nerves, and they’ll start defying everything you ask them to do and abuse drugs again, just like children.
In this journey, let them take responsibility for their actions by allowing them to deal with their recovery according to their terms. This will enable them to feel independent, which is vital for addiction recovery.
Build trust
It is critical to establish trust with anyone during their pathway towards recovery. It’s the same case in rehabs as well; if addicts believe you trust them, they’ll understand they’re supported and loved.
As a result, they’ll be more responsible with every life decision they make. For instance, if you’ve left them by themselves inside their home, instead of calling them constantly, trust them not to disobey you or go against their treatment.
To learn more about drug rehab in Melbourne be sure to check out The Hader Clinic.
Conclusion
Supporting a loved one or a friend through addiction recovery is all about putting their needs before yours. You have to allow them to lean on you for help and support during testing times.
After all, addiction recovery is an involved process, and taking the road to recovery alone will prove to be highly challenging.
While intervention from a drug counselor might be needed sometimes, it will ensure that your loved one, friend, or family member goes through recovery smoothly.
