The ugly truth is, we live in a chaotic world where everything is focused on money and virtual things which is why people frequently forget to prioritize more important things, like their mental health, socializing love for one another, and many others.
A majority of people are extremely lonely and when they cannot find a way to deal with it or any other problem for that matter, they turn to some type of addiction. The most common ones are drugs and alcohol.
And you as their friend are witnessing this unfortunately very heartbreaking journey. Sometimes many think that it’s much easier to ignore the problem, but if you sweep things under the rug, it is going to worsen the situation. Is there anything you can do? Of course, you can! Scroll below to find out how.
Ways You Can Help A Loved One Who Is Battling Addiction
Educate Yourself
If you haven’t faced this problem before, then it’s of huge importance to educate yourself about it so you can recognize all the symptoms of addiction right on time. You’ve seen it maybe in movies or TV shows, but that’s not enough.
Real-life is something completely different, and if you’re not familiar with these types of situations, you can easily miss the crucial signs that were there all along. It’s important to accentuate that addiction is very complex.
And it’s completely understandable if you’re not sure how to behave or react in the beginning. However, that’s precisely why you need to soak in every single piece of information you find so you can instantly help your beloved friend as much as you can.
Expect Bumps On The Road
Helping someone who is having addiction issues is far from easy. It is something that affects both the addict and a person who is trying to help. What potential issues can you expect down the road?
- A person may not accept that he or she is having a problem
- Doesn’t want to get rid of this habit
- He/she is scared of consequences
- Is embarrassed to speak about this problem with anyone else, including you
- May find it difficult to speak with a professional as well
- Is using addiction to avoid real problems
The truth is, there’s no such a thing as a speedy recovery. If you do not think that your strategies are working and improving the situation, then maybe you should consider hiring an expert or going to an institution that has dealt with these conditions before.
Fortunately, there are a lot of great ones out there. Experienced professionals at White River Recovery rehab center believe that through various beneficial activities, a skilled counselor is going to be able to establish trust with the client. That’s probably the most important thing because these people are usually very anxious distrustful.
Therefore, surround yourself with determination and huge willpower and if you notice that what you’re currently doing isn’t effective enough, seek any form of assistance. As mentioned above, usually, professional help is the best solution.
Is There Anything Else That Can Be Done?
Get Help For Yourself
Just because your friend is struggling with addiction, it doesn’t mean that you should feel strong and resilient all the time. On the contrary. It’s completely okay if you are feeling scared or lost at times.
If that’s the case, then maybe you should consult a counselor or psychologist to see what he or she can do to help you. You will probably receive some type of guidance which is highly appreciated in these types of situations.
You have to understand that in order to help your beloved one, you have to help yourself as well, otherwise, you will not be able to give your maximum. If you’re not sure where to find a reliable expert, talk to people you know and trust and see if they can recommend anybody.
Encourage Healthy Habits
Now, when someone is having issues with addiction, it doesn’t affect only their physical health, but mental as well. Mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression are often aggravated when they are using drugs or alcohol.
Hence, you should talk about these things, and see if the person who is struggling can also seek some form of treatment for other health problems he/she is currently dealing with. Your friend must comprehend the toll the addiction is taking on her or his life.
Therefore, you should do anything that’s in your power to establish a structured and safe environment where you’ll be able to promote a healthy lifestyle and habits and make sure to incorporate exercising as well.
Do Not Enable Your Friend
This is a delicate situation, no one can deny it, however, you have to distinguish what is helpful and what is some form of enabling. Someone you love is hurting and it affects you too and you want to do anything you can to protect your friend.
That’s completely okay, but it doesn’t mean that you should enable him/her in any way. What does it mean? For instance, you are dealing with a person who is having issues with alcohol. And that individual loves to hang out with his or her friends and then sit in their car and drive.
Since you know how dangerous it can be, you are constantly offering to drive your friend home because he or she is currently under the influence. It’s acceptable to do it every now and then, but continuously, definitely not.
How come you are probably wondering? If you continue with this behavior it means that you are approving it and at the same time you are enabling the person with alcohol problems. No matter how cruel it may sound to you, you should stop doing it.
It would be much better if your force this individual to face the consequences of the things she/he is doing. It is going to be much more effective than if you are constantly there to rescue them.
Dealing with somebody who is having addiction problems is very difficult and not something you would ever wish upon anyone, however, as you can see, no matter how hard it is, there’s always a way to help.
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