Addiction is a life-threatening condition that takes the lives of thousands of people every year. In 2017, 70,237 people lost their lives from drug overdoses alone.
When your loved one has this disease, it can be difficult to remember that they have no control over how they act while they are suffering through this. Many families will cut off their addicted family member when they are struggling with recovery and send them off on their own at a time when the addict needs their family more than ever.
Because it is sometimes difficult to deal with the effects of addiction on our loved ones, here are four ways to help a family member battling addiction overcome this disease and start on the path to a fulfilling and addiction-free life.
1. Know the Facts
Addiction is a disease characterized by the desire to get drugs, or any other thing that a person might be addicted to, like alcohol. It is destructive and difficult to control.
Most of the time, those who are addicted will do anything to get drugs, despite the harmful consequences that come for both themselves and their families.
Educating yourself is the first thing that you should do to be there for your loved one. The knowledge that this is, in fact, a disease that your loved one cannot control will not only make it easier for you to be there for them but will also make you feel more confident in your ability to help.
2. Always Approach Them with Compassion
Nothing will make your loved one cut you out of their life faster than being angry and not understanding of their situation.
Even if you are angry about the situation, always remember that addiction is the bad thing, not your loved one. The best way to help them is to always approach them with compassion and understanding about what they are going through.
3. Healthy Boundaries
While you should always be understanding and compassionate to your loved one, you should also be able to set healthy boundaries for yourself. That way, you do not get caught up in their addiction.
Many family members who start out trying to help the addicted end up as enablers to them by being too lenient and giving them the financial ability to continue their addiction.
It is important to let your loved one know that you are more than willing to help in their recovery, but if they are not going to try to recover, and instead use you to further the problem, you cannot be involved.
4. Sober Living Facilities
Sober living facilities can help an addict achieve recovery and lasting change. If your loved one is willing, one of the best ways to help is to get them into a facility that is trained specifically to deal with these problems.
Sober living facilities have 24/7 care and support that your loved one would likely not receive at home. They are very strict so that your loved one does not have the leniency that they would normally rely on to get drugs.
These facilities can be very worth-while as long as your loved one is willing to accept the help. It’s important to remember that you cannot help someone who does not want the help.
If your loved one is struggling with addiction, it can seem like there is no end in sight. The most important thing is to be there for them if they are actually trying to better themselves. These four tips are a great place to start.
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Guest Author Bio
Trenton J. Smith
Trenton is an aspiring writer who loves to research and write about a wide variety of topics. When he is not writing, he enjoys gardening and long walks with his dog Boomer.
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