Addiction is a severe mental health issue that is plaguing our society. Millions are dealing with addiction worldwide and have no one to help them. Numerous addictions exist, including cigarettes, alcohol, narcotics, porn, e.t.c. Many addicts also know how to hide it, so it is incredibly challenging to know if they are addicted and help them. Everyone needs help sometimes, and addicts need help the most. If you know someone dealing with addiction, here is how to help them:
Show Compassion
If you know anyone with an addiction, the foremost thing you can do to help them is to show them compassion. Addiction is a disease, and like with other diseases, you should show the patient affection and let them know the help is coming from a place of love. This will also help build trust between you so they will be more inclined to allow you to help them instead of getting defensive, as most people do. Even a friend could turn hostile towards you if they are an addiction patient. Allow them to choose how they want to best deal with the addiction. Your main task is to be supportive and ensure they follow through on dealing with the addiction.
Present Them With Options
There are many ways to deal with addiction, but most addicts will be ignorant. Each method will work differently depending on the addict and addiction. Therefore, it will be best to present them with as many options as possible. The more recovery options they have, the better their chances of recovery because they can choose the method that best suits them. There may also be options that work well together, for example, rehab and cognitive behavioral therapy. Ensure that the addict knows what each option involves and the best way they can apply it.
Communicate Effectively
Communication will be essential when helping someone deal with addiction. Words have a tremendous impact on people’s behavior, and it may be that harsh words said repeatedly lead the victim to addiction. Therefore, choose your words wisely to help someone deal with an addiction. You should try using more positive statements than negative statements, for example, ‘I like you sober’ instead of ‘I hate when you are not sober.’ you should also use empathetic words instead of forceful ones, which may turn the addiction patient away from recovery. Half of effective communication is about effective listening. Ensure you listen to the addiction patient, and you will better understand them and be in a better place to help them.
Expect Difficulties
Helping someone deal with an addiction is no walk in the park. You should expect tremendous difficulties and be prepared for an uphill battle before possible recovery. The addict may be in denial, violent, or fear the consequences of substance abuse. Regardless, you should prepare for the worst, which in some cases may mean tough love, for example, restraining them if they become violent. The road to recovery from addiction is long and rough and will involve gruesome scenes depending on the level of addiction. The substances the addict abuses will also determine the difficulty level as it is more challenging to beat a heroin addiction than opioid addiction.
Participate In The Treatment
It would be best to participate in the treatment to help someone with an addiction. There are cases where it will be impossible to do so, for example, if the addiction patient has to be isolated for several weeks or under medication. However, the point is you should be as involved in the addiction recovery process as possible. If the patient needs support, be there for them. If they have to administer medication, you can help them with that. Find out from the doctors what kind of help they need and commit yourself to doing it. You and the addiction patient will be proud when the addiction recovery is successful.
Create A Positive And Addiction Free Environment
One of the best things you can do to help an addict recover from their disease is to create a positive and addiction-free environment. Our environment dramatically shapes our behavior, and in the case of addiction, someone is more likely to become an addict or relapse during recovery if the environment enables it. Therefore, you should create a positive environment by encouraging the patient at every turn by telling and showing them that they will successfully recover from addiction. You should also remove anything in their environment that may cause them to relapse and return to their destructive ways. For example, you should scrutinize the house to ensure there are no drugs if you are helping a drug addict. Positive change is inevitable in a positive environment and vice-versa.
Respect Their Privacy
Addiction is a very sensitive issue, so many addicts hide it so well. They do not want anyone to know about their addiction, so if you are helping someone recover from an addiction, it means they are completely trusting you. It would be best if you rewarded that trust by respecting their privacy. If they do not want anyone else to know about their situation, keep it that way. You should also respect their privacy if they want to be alone. Please respect their wishes discreetly if they ask you to do something for them. Let them do what they need to do to recover.
Take Care Of Yourself
You cannot help anyone if you cannot help yourself, so if you want to help someone with an addiction, you should first ensure your house is in order. Ensure you eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. More importantly, you should ensure your health is in excellent shape. The better your shape, the better you will be able to care for the addiction patient.
There is much you can do to help someone with an addiction. It will be very challenging, and you should expect this from the start. Use the tips above to offer the addiction patient the best help you can offer.
