Did you know that around 20 million Americans suffer from addiction every day? Worst of all, only a small fraction of them receive the treatment they need.
If your loved one is suffering from addiction, you should know that there are many ways to help an addict.
Keep reading to learn about helping someone with an addiction.
1. Foster a Supportive Atmosphere
The question of how to help someone with an addiction is important, and the best way to start the healing process is by creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Rather than blaming your loved one, listen to what they have to say. Rather than yelling at them, comfort them with soft tones and hugs. In short, never be hostile when helping an addict.
2. Empathize With Your Loved One
When someone you know and love is suffering from addiction, everyone is negatively affected by it, including friends and family. It’s important to remember that the addict is as much a victim as everyone else.
Put yourself in their shoes and think about what it feels like to be them at that moment. Empathy is a powerful tool for understanding and helping.
3. Research Addiction
Another way of understanding and better helping your loved one is by doing concrete research into what addiction actually is.
Just like you would do if they were diagnosed with any other illness, you’ll want to do as much research as possible so that you can fully wrap your head around the problem. This will not only make you more knowledgeable about the issue of addiction but it will also help you empathize more.
4. Don’t Neglect Yourself
With so much focus on your loved one, it might be easy to forget about your own needs. Being with a spouse who is suffering from addiction is no walk in the park so it’s important that you get the help and support you need as well.
That way, you can also be a better help to your loved one, rather than breaking down and creating a hostile atmosphere.
5. Get Professional Help
Of course, you should not be expected to do everything alone. In order to give your loved one all the support and resources they need, they should be encouraged to enter a drug rehab facility.
It’s important that they ultimately make the rehabilitation choice on their own. Instead of forcing them to go, you’ll want to use the above tips to lead them to the best solution to their problem.
Professionals can also answer more questions you might have about how to support an addict.
With These 5 Ways to Help an Addict, You Should Feel More Prepared
Now that you know the ways to help an addict, you can begin to gently pave the way toward their recovery.
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