The Most Important Steps to Take If You Have a Friend Who Is Struggling with Addiction
The unfortunate reality is that we live in a world of chaos where everyone is focused on finances and virtual things, which means that people quite often forget to prioritise more important things, such as their mental health, socialising love for each other, and many others.
Most people suffer from severe isolation and often resort to substance abuse when they feel helpless in the face of their loneliness or other problems. Both alcohol and drugs are extremely common.
You, as a friend, get to experience every heartbreaking step of this journey alongside them. It’s tempting to brush issues under the rug and avoid dealing with them, but doing so will only make matters worse. Can you help in any way? Of course it is possible! Just keep reading to find out.
Advice on How to Support a Loved One Through Addiction
In other words, get some addictino schooling.
Knowing the signs of addiction so you can intervene early is crucial if you haven’t dealt with it before. Perhaps you’ve witnessed it on the big or small screen, but that’s not enough.
The real world is very different, and if you’ve never dealt with anything like this before, you might miss some crucial clues that were there the whole time. Addiction is a very complex disease, and this needs to be emphasised.
It’s normal to feel unsure of yourself and your initial responses. However, this is all the more reason to absorb everything you learn so you can assist your dear friend right away.
There Will Be Bumpy Rides Ahead
It’s not easy to aid someone who’s struggling with addiction. It’s not just the addict who feels the effects; the person who’s trying to help them does, too. Can you tell me what problems may arise in the future?
It’s possible for someone to deny the existence of an issue in their life.
- dislikes the idea of breaking this routine
- As a result, he or she is hesitant to act for fear of repercussions.
Feels uncomfortable telling anyone else, including you, about the issue
It could be intimidating to talk to a doctor or psychologist.
Is addiction a crutch for avoiding difficult issues?
There is no such thing as a quick healing, unfortunately. If you feel like you’ve exhausted all of your options and nothing seems to be helping, it may be time to consult an expert or visit a facility that has experience with your particular set of circumstances.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of excellent ones to choose from. According to the knowledgeable staff at the Relapse Prevention rehabilitation centre, a skilled counsellor will be able to build trust with the client through a variety of helpful activities. Since these people are so anxious and suspicious, that’s probably the most vital piece of information.
So, surround yourself with people who are determined and have tremendous willpower, and if you find that what you’re doing isn’t working, try something new. As was previously mentioned, in most cases, enlisting expert assistance is your best bet.
Do We Have Any Other Options?
Learn to Help Yourself
Don’t feel like you have to be superhumanly tough just because a friend of yours is battling addiction. The opposite is true, however. It’s normal to feel anxious or disoriented occasionally.
You might want to see what kind of help a counsellor or psychologist can provide if that’s the case. It’s likely that you’ll get advice, which is invaluable in a predicament like this.
You need to take care of yourself so that you can give your all to your partner in need. Talk to those you trust and know to see whether they can suggest a trustworthy expert in the field.
Activate Positive Behavioral Change by Promoting Healthier Lifestyles
These days, a person’s mental health suffers alongside their physical health if they are struggling with addiction. Substance abuse often exacerbates preexisting mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
That’s why it’s important to have this conversation and determine whether the individual having difficulty can get help for any other health issues. Your friend needs to realise the serious consequences of their addiction.
Consequently, you should do everything in your ability to establish a controlled setting in which you can encourage healthy behaviours and diet while also providing a secure place to exercise.
Never Give In to a Friend’s Enabling Requests
There’s no denying the gravity of the situation; however, it’s important to differentiate between providing assistance and enabling the offender in some way. When you or a person you care about is suffering, it impacts you deeply. You would do anything to alleviate their pain.
That’s fine, but that doesn’t give you permission to enable the person in question. For those who don’t understand, please explain. In this case, let’s say you’re interacting with someone who has alcohol problems. In addition, he or she enjoys socialising with friends while driving.
You’re always offering to give your drunk friend a ride home because you know how risky it is for them to get behind the wheel. The occasional occurrence is fine, but constant occurrence is not.
To answer your question, let me explain. Continuing to engage in this pattern of behaviour indicates that you find it acceptable and is enabling the alcoholic. You must stop doing it even if you think it sounds cruel.
The best course of action would be to make this person suffer the repercussions of her or his actions. Rather than constantly coming to their aid, they will be able to succeed without your help.
There is always a way of helping, no matter how difficult it may be to deal with someone who is experiencing addiction issues.
