Let’s not sugar-coat it – approaching and helping your loved one who struggles with and addiction is never a piece of cake.
In fact, it can be a very long, challenging, and painful process, but you know what? It definitely isn’t impossible.
Here are some useful tips and guidelines on how to make it happen with success, so check them out and learn something new today!
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Search for Warning Signs in the First Place
Even though a lot of people think that identifying a substance use disorder is an easy task because the symptoms are way too obvious, the truth is that reality is completely different than that.
In fact, substance addiction is often an internal battle, which means that recognising the symptoms and helping your loved one can be very tricky and difficult.
This is particularly true because the majority of addicts usually tend to deny that they have a problem, trying to keep their habits a secret for as long as possible.
Even though the symptoms can differ depending on a person and the type of addiction they’re dealing with, there are some common ones such as untidy appearance, lying, bloody eyes, and social alienation.
If your loved one is featuring any of these, it may be the right time to approach them and help them out.
Be as Loving & Compassionate as Possible
As already mentioned, identifying the substance use disorder in your loved one can be tricky, but you know what?
Approaching and trying to help them can be even more challenging, so be extra careful and don’t make a huge mistake.
The key to success is adopting the right attitude which will allow you to get closer to your friend or a family member, without them feeling threatened.
Earning their trust is essential, so do your best to show love and compassion in order to understand what they’re going through.
Apart from allowing you to bond more with and strengthen your relationship, such an approach will play a crucial role in the recovery process as well.
It’s also important to say that being supportive doesn’t mean that you’re allowed to be judging or controlling, so respect their privacy if you don’t want to push them away.
Overcome the Barriers Together
Struggling with addiction is never easy, and this is particularly true for addicts who don’t want to admit it to themselves.
They live in an enchanted circle of denial, refusing to change their lifestyle and thinking that their addiction is actually beneficial for them.
Such a circle needs to be broken in order for your loved one to get back on track and take control of their life, which is why you should be as supportive as possible and help them accomplish that.
No matter how upset or angry you may feel about their condition, you must know that using guilt and shame is the last thing you want to do.
Instead, understand their struggle and let them figure out that a treatment program in a specialized facility may be the best option for them.
There are numerous facilities of this kind all across America, but we have to say that drug rehab in New Jersey is certainly among the best ones out there.
Just take it into consideration and you won’tmake a mistake.
Make Sure to Understand the Risks Too!
Needless to say, any kind of addiction can have different negative effects, both on the body and on the mind of the addict.
This means that changing their personality, behaviour, and character is quite common, which often causes the addicts to distance themselves from their family and friends.
Such behaviour can sometimes result in loneliness, depression, and even suicidal thoughts, which tend to push them deeper into addiction, instead of overcoming it.
When you know all of this, it’s crucial that you do whatever you can to understand those risks and choose the right approach, so that your loved one who struggles can trust you and let you help them.
One thing is certain – the sooner you identify the symptoms, the easier it will be to reverse the damage, so bear that in mind and you’ll do a great job.
As you can tell, there are a lot of important things you should remember when it comes to approaching and helping an addict.
This definitely won’t be an easy task, but it isn’t an impossible mission either.
All you need to do is to stick to our tips and guidelines and you won’t go wrong – that’s a promise!