Having a loved one addicted to drugs or alcohol can take its toll on a family. It’s painful to watch a family member helplessly destroying their life through addiction.
Family would do almost anything to help their loved one overcome it but in most cases they don’t know how, aren’t suitably skilled and are enmeshed in co-dependent behaviours that may even enable the addiction to continue. Below you will be able to find some helpful tips for families struggling with addiction.
Tip #1: Remember the Person Before They Became Addicted
It’s important for family members to realise that when someone becomes addicted to alcohol and drugs, their brains have been hijacked and that addiction may make them do things that they wouldn’t normally do.
Families need to remind themselves about how the individual was before they became addicted and that while the addiction might cause them to do hurtful things; they are not doing it purposefully.
In some cases, the only thing that addicts can focus on is where their next fix will be coming from and how they’ll be able to get it.
Tip #2: Exclude Addiction from Love
When the addiction becomes more severe, emotion and concern can get the better of family members, damaging the relationship they once had with their loved one.
Family members must learn to exclude love from their sibling’s addiction. A good example would be to not give in to the addictive behaviours and demands of the addict. This doesn’t mean you’re giving up on them but rather that you are drawing the line and setting new limits.
Tip#3: Learn More about the Addiction
Learning more about the addiction will give family members the added advantage of knowing what the addiction might cause (e.g. the signs and symptoms and the long term consequences of continued use) and what can be done to help them.
This will also better prepare families them to make the right decisions going forward.
Tip#4: Get Help Sooner Rather Than Later
The faster help is received, the better are the chances that your loved one will make a full recovery.
This can be easier said than done, as some families may not know how to approach their loved one, that’s why it’s best to speak to an addiction counsellor who will be able to provide helpful advice.
The counsellor will help in setting up an intervention, a meeting where the family members that the addict loves and trusts the most, all gather and explain and share their personal experiences of what their addiction is doing to them and to urge the individual to get help.
Help comes in many forms but the best way to treat an addiction is by admitting your loved one into an alcohol or drug rehabilitation centre.
In rehab, the patient will receive 24 hour supervised medical care as well as counselling and therapy to help teach them about their addiction and how to avoid using alcohol or drugs in the future.
For more information regarding help for your loved one, call us now and our internationally accredited addiction counsellors will gladly assist in finding the right treatment for them.
