How To Help a Loved One Who Is Struggling With Addiction

When someone you know and care about is struggling with addiction, it can be difficult to deal with. Not only can it be painful to watch them struggle, but it can also be hard to know what you should do to help them, too. That doesn't mean, though, that there's nothing you can do. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding to seek help for a loved one dealing with addiction.

Know Your Options

The first thing you should do is learn what your options are. This can include learning about different ways to approach your loved one, like with an intervention, as well as learning what resources are available to you locally. Resources for those struggling with addiction can range from rehab facilities. To find the best center for your loved one, do diligent research based on location to be able to visit, from drug rehab centers in Utah to New York there are many options in every area. Getting an awareness of what's available can be a good first step on the path to helping your loved one and professionals can often help give you direction if you don't know where to start.

Get Educated About Addiction

After you've got an understanding of what's available to you locally, doing some more research and educating yourself about addiction can be a good next move. In some situations, even if you sincerely mean to do well, if you are not educated about addiction and how it impacts your loved one, you could end up causing more harm than good. By studying addiction and gaining an understanding of what many addicts go through, and why they become addicted in the first place, you can increase the likelihood that you will be able to communicate with your loved one effectively.

Seek Help From Others

In many situations, trying to help someone break their addiction is not something that you should try to do alone. It can be a difficult to deal with, and support from other family members as well as professionals can often make a significant difference throughout the process. This can be particularly true in situations where the person with the addiction also has legal, or financial issues, or is also dealing with domestic abuse. Also, not only is it important to seek help for your loved one who is addicted, but it can also be important to seek help for yourself, as dealing with someone else's addiction can be stressful. There can be many ways to get support for yourself, whether it's through family and friends, counseling, or support groups like Al-Anon.

Be Realistic

One thing that you have to keep in mind throughout the process of helping a person who is struggling with addiction is that there is only so much you can do. Once you have tried your best to support them and get them the help they need, the hard work of healing is often largely up to them, and depends on the choices they make, as well as how committed they are to making healthy changes in their life. Although it can be difficult to watch them struggle, you have to remember that you are not responsible for their journey, no matter what happens. Also, the reality of addiction is that even after rehabilitation, relapses can happen and are not uncommon. Even though it may be frustrating to see someone you care about go back down the wrong path, you still need to remember that a relapse doesn't always mean failure, and they may still need you support through these ups and downs.

The Bottom Line

Having a friend or family member that's struggling with addiction can be troubling, and difficult to deal with. Not only can it be hard to watch them struggle, but it can lead to feelings of helplessness when you aren't sure how to help them.

That doesn't mean, though, that you don't have any options. By doing some research and taking the right steps, you can help to support your loved ones on the path to wellness and healing.