Anyone with a family member affected by drug addiction knows it can feel like an overwhelming topic. It can be difficult to know what to say, how to help, and what you loved one’s recovery will look like. Fortunately, there are ways you can support your loved one even if you feel unsure about doing so. Much of the stigma surrounding drug use is often because of those left behind when someone loses control over their actions or habits. They may have driven the person away from others with their critical and judgmental attitudes or ostracized them for being unable to control their impulses. Instead of focusing on what they did wrong and punishing them, it’s essential to take a step back and focus on how we can help instead of punishing them for what they did.
Stay Connected
The more you communicate with your loved one, the more you might be able to pick up on their wellbeing. If they seem to be sad or down, or if they constantly feel like they don’t have any time to themselves, these are all signs that they may need some support. Asking your loved one how they are doing, what they have been doing, and how you can help them can help you to be a better support system for them. If you feel like you can’t ask them directly or don’t know how to communicate as a couple, you could also consider reaching out to a family support group or a mental health professional.
Open Conversations
Some people may be afraid to have open and honest conversations about drug addiction because of their own experiences with the stigma that surrounds it. Whether your loved one is fighting with you, having trouble with finances, or finding it challenging to manage their moods, you may be afraid to bring up the topic of addiction. It may feel like a “you problem” and you may worry that you will make it worse. The truth, however, is that you don’t need to “fix it” and you don’t need to “fix” your loved one. All you need to do is create an open environment where you and your loved one are free to openly discuss their issues. Open communication can be especially effective if you and your loved one have joint goals and plans for the future. It can be helpful to have discussions about your loved one’s plans for the future. This can be helpful if your loved one struggles to see any sort of end to their substance abuse. It can also be helpful to have discussions about what your loved one’s goals are and how they can work towards achieving them.
Help Them Find Recovery Resources
If your loved one is struggling with addiction, it can feel like there are a million resources to help but it’s hard to know where to begin. Whether your loved one is looking for ways to stop using drugs, to find a support group to connect with, or to begin the healing process, you can help them get started by having them sign up for recovery resources like an email or text list. You can also offer to sign your loved one up to receive these resources in your name to make it easier for them to access them. If your loved one is looking for support groups, it can be helpful to encourage them to reach out to a group or offer to connect them with someone who can help them find a group that works for them. It can also be helpful to encourage your loved one to keep a journal so they can reflect on their experience and begin to heal.
Don’t Just Offer Help; Asking For It Too
There’s a major difference between offering to help your loved one, and asking them to receive help. Just because you want to help, doesn’t mean that it’s the right course of action. It can be helpful to ask your loved one what they want out of a recovery process and what they feel they need to get better. This can help you to better understand what they need, and what they want out of recovery. It can also be helpful to ask your loved one what has helped them get better in the past. This can open the door to information about what has helped other people get better, and can help you to provide your loved one with information about recovery that can be helpful for them.
Encouraging Self-Care and Respite Care
If your loved one is living with addiction, it can be helpful to remind them to practice self-care. This can mean reminding your loved one to sit down, reflect on their feelings and needs, and address any underlying issues they may be grappling with. It can also mean reminding your loved one to engage in activities that help to relieve stress, such as spending time with a close friend or family member, taking a walk in nature, or engaging in a hobby that helps to take their mind off of their problems. If your loved one is living with addiction, it can also be helpful to encourage them to seek out ways to take time for themselves. This can include things like engaging in self-care activities, taking a relaxing bubble bath, journaling, or listening to music that helps to take their mind off of their troubles.
Celebrate Their Achievements
One of the best ways to show your loved one that you love and support them is to celebrate their achievements. Whether your loved one has gone to a meeting or made an effort to stay clean and sober, it can be helpful to celebrate their efforts. It can also be helpful to celebrate your own achievements, such as finishing your schoolwork, finishing a project at work, or getting an award for something that you’ve worked hard for. If your loved one has made progress towards recovery, it can be helpful to celebrate the progress that has been made. This can include things like going out for dinner or taking a vacation that has been put on hold while your loved one has been in recovery, celebrating your loved one’s new haircut or wardrobe change, or dining out at a fancy restaurant that your loved one used to be unable to afford.
Helping Hands – Finding Ways To Be Helpful
If you are feeling like you don’t know what to do or how to help your loved one, it may be helpful to try out the following ways of being helpful. Keep a journal of what your loved one is doing and how you can help them. Try reaching out to a family support group, mental health professional, or other family member to find out what they are struggling with. Pick up some household chores that your loved one can do to help them to feel appreciated. If you feel like you’re struggling to find helpful ways to help your loved one, consider reaching out to friends or family members for help. It can help to discuss what you’re struggling with, and to hear from others that they have found helpful ways of helping their loved ones.
Zorba Wellness is one of the best deaddiction centre in Pune, India for alcohol and drug addiction treatment.
