Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone, but when it happens to a loved one, it can be devastating. When dealing with addiction in your family, you need to know how best to help them and take care of yourself. Finding addiction treatment for a loved one is crucial so you do not feel the burden is all on you.
Loving someone with an addiction can be challenging, but Promises Brazos Valley is here to help you overcome addiction together. Our mental health and addiction treatment programs emphasize getting to the root causes of addiction and addressing underlying issues that may interfere with recovery. Your loved one will receive the appropriate medication and therapy to help them succeed, including family therapy to improve communication and heal old wounds. Give us a call at 979.426.0086 to get addiction help for someone you love.
Helping a Loved One with Addiction
Helping a loved one with addiction can sometimes be a fine line between supporting them and enabling them. You might not know the right way to help them and may unintentionally say or do something that exacerbates the problem. Here are some tips for loving someone with addiction:
Support Their Treatment Journey
Your loved one may not know where to start when seeking addiction treatment. You can help them search for a treatment program and offer to make the call or drive them to the facility for their assessment. Seek a treatment program that includes family therapy so you can work through the effects of addiction together and strengthen your relationship.
Know What to Say and Not Say
When someone you love is struggling with addiction, it can be hard to know what to say. Some things are better left unsaid, but there are also important things you can say that are supportive. Here are a few examples:
- Do not tell them to stop drinking or using drugs. It is not that simple to quit, and forcing them into recovery may only worsen things.
- Refrain from insults, name-calling, or blaming. Addiction is a disease, and once in the grips of it, the person may be unable to stop without professional help.
- Always speak to them with patience and love. It is okay to let them know you are concerned for their well-being.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Loving someone with an addiction can put you in a tricky position. You may need to show tough love by saying no and standing your ground. It is vital to set up rules and boundaries. For example, do not let them borrow money or use drugs at your place.
Prepare for Relapse
Despite how committed your loved one is to their recovery, there is still the potential for relapse. This is a common part of recovery and does not reflect their efforts or desire to get better. If your loved one has a relapse, keep a few things in mind:
- Don’t take relapse personally.
- Try to stay hopeful.
- Do not give in to a loved one’s demands for money, drugs, or alcohol, even if they make threats.
- Do not allow your loved one to mistreat you just because they are going through a rough patch in their recovery.
- Don’t let them make you feel guilty for saying no.
One of the most important things to remember when helping a loved one with addiction is to stay strong. Be firm with them and take good care of yourself. You can also reach out to a therapist and join support groups, so you also have the support you need.
Help a Loved One with Addiction at Promises Brazos Valley
At Promises Brazos Valley, we know how hard it can be to know what to do when a loved one has an addiction. We are here to guide you through the process of getting help for your loved one and supporting them throughout their treatment. Call us today at 979.426.0086 for support.