Looking at a loved one fighting an addiction can be hard for you. An addicted person does suffer alone. The people surrounding the person also suffer quietly. It is challenging to support a person, important to you, to get over a craving for drugs. You battle your emotions and feelings and keep trying to be there for them.
How addiction affects your loved ones
You cannot force an individual to quit a harmful act. It will just make them retreat from you. Also, you cannot help them unless you are extremely gentle.
When someone gets a chronic disorder in the brain, it is most likely addiction. In this disease, an individual continuously uses a substance even though it may harm their health and well-being. An addiction to anything, in particular, can adversely affect people close to the addicted individual.
Impacts
Addiction can cause mental and physical drainage in an affected individual. This includes random mood swings and behavior changes toward people around the addicted individual. Moreover, people get inspiration from their parents or close friends to do drugs or any substance. Peer pressure has a significant effect in such situations. Also, an unhealthy environment can cause conflicts and quarrels in a home.
How to spot addiction
Medically certified individuals like doctors, psychiatrists, or other licensed professionals can diagnose SUDs (substance use disorders). On the bright side, knowing the criteria for SUDs can prove to help suspect addiction in a loved one.
The APA (American Psychiatric Association’s) diagnosis of mental disorders and other help manuals list the criteria for SUDs:
- Substance consumption in huge amounts or for extended periods than intended
- Shortcomings in completing work and duties because of the effects of substance
- Feeling a powerful urge to use the substance
How to assist a dear one going through substance abuse
Sometimes, addicts fail to find a solution to understand their reactions. This makes them want to use any medium to lighten their burden. This is why you should lend a helping hand and be willing to share your worries.
Extend your support
It is a problematic task to converse with a person fighting addiction. You should set a specific time to talk to your loved one. Try to ensure that you and the affected individual are composed and calm.
You can show love by caring. Highlight how your concern for their addiction is because you care for them. Use soft language that can help induce positive feelings in them. Moreover, tell them how taking treatment can assist them. Providing reassuring statements have a favorable outcome on the person.
One very important thing is that you should let them vent out. Focus on their stories and try to listen to their concerns.
Avoid negative remarks
Using criticism and uncooperative words is not helpful. It can increase the levels of anger, tension, and defensiveness. If you feel uneasy and your loved one is unwilling to talk, do not pressurize them. Please give them the space they require.
Advising treatment
You can refer them to therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) that focuses on helping addicts understand their belief systems. The tactics they use alter people’s behavior patterns that lead to substance abuse.
Online therapies can be a wonderful cure. Therapies regarding addiction and substance usage focus on conversations about how people can rethink their decisions regarding drug usage. You can also recommend treatment centers for addictions to highlight the benefits of recovery and motivate your loved ones to make good decisions.
Conclusion
Supporting your loved ones who are suffering from addiction can be a challenging task. You can follow various steps to take care of your loved one. It would help if you also focused on your mental health because it can be tiring to convince someone to quit substance use. Taking small steps can be beneficial for the journey of leaving an addiction. You cannot force your loved one to quit an addiction or change their behavior almost instantly, but you can help them by following the above-mentioned pointers.