Having to watch someone we love struggle with addiction can be a very painful experience. We’re basically watching someone self-destruct and potentially ruin their lives. We have to see them suffering and in pain. We’re watching as they endanger themselves and repeatedly put themselves in harm’s way. We desperately wish we could protect them from themselves. We wish we could take their pain away. While we can’t solve their problems for them, there are some things we can do to help them.
Encourage your loved one to get help and offer to support them in the process. When we are in the midst of our depression and really struggling with addiction, the basic daily functions of life can be hard enough to manage, let alone doing the hard work of reaching out for help. You can help them out immeasurably by offering your assistance in researching treatment centers, support groups and therapists. Offer to help them make calls or to drive them to appointments. When we are struggling, we can be dealing with debilitating anxiety and panic. The logistical details such as how we’ll find a treatment center or how we’ll get there can be so overwhelming and anxiety-inducing that we opt to avoid it altogether.
Remind them that professional treatment will get them better results in their recovery than trying to do everything alone. Remind them that they don’t have to prove anything, that pridefulness only holds us back and prevents us from getting the help we need. Tell them that admitting we need help and then reaching out for help are signs of strength, not weakness. Encourage them to look at treatment centers’ testimonials when trying to decide, to show them that recovery is possible, and to motivate them to take their recovery seriously.
Don’t over-exert yourself trying to control or manipulate them into doing anything. People can only recover when they’re truly ready to. Don’t try to force them into rehab, throw out their drugs and alcohol, start fights or give ultimatums. Feeling controlled can sometimes have the adverse effect of making people defensive and less receptive to our concerns. They are more likely to take getting help seriously when they feel encouraged rather than controlled, when they feel like they’re acting of their own free will and making the decision that feels right for them when they’re ready to make it.
At Bayview Recovery, our total commitment is to you and your recovery. We get to know you and your story so that we can help you develop a personalized treatment plan to suit your needs. Call 888-570-7154 for more information.
