March 29, 2024

When someone you love is fighting an addiction, you can play an important role in helping them overcome their problem. However, you cannot help them alone. The first step in getting your loved one help fighting their addiction is to get them professional help. Seek help from a reputable Ohio addiction recovery center, such as the one found at www.ohioarc.com. Studies have shown that long-term success is more possible when an addict chooses to enroll in a program at a drug treatment center. Listed below are some other tips for helping your loved one overcome their addiction and get on the path to recovery.

Professional Treatment Programs

Like stated above, it is very important to speak with your loved one about enrolling in an addiction treatment center. These facilities have programs that are designed to help people with substance abuse disorders get back on their feet, re-evaluate their priorities and goals and learn tips and techniques for successfully fighting their addiction. If your loved one needs to go through a withdrawal period, a reputable center will have nurses available to ensure it is done safely. Drug treatment practices among doctors coincide with using a treatment facility.

Be Realistic

When you commit to helping a loved one fight their drug addictions, it is important that you be realistic with your expectations. It is expected that there are going to be possible relapses, roadblocks and resistance from your loved one. Try to find a balanced perspective so that you will be able to stay positive and encouraging even when challenges arise.

Don’t Forget Who They Are Inside

It is important to remember that your loved one is not the addiction they are fighting. The person you love and care about is still inside and wants to come out. It can be difficult to see that person through the veil of their drug abuse. Some of their actions may not be in their control. While you are helping them, do not take everything so personally. Never lead with shame or blame when trying to encourage them. This will not help them move forward with a positive mental state.

Avoid Enabling Behaviors

While helping your loved one fight their addiction, be honest with them about your own needs, feelings and boundaries. In a non-aggressive way, be honest concerning what you expect from them and hope they will achieve by getting help. Enabling and sheltering your loved one from the consequences of their drug abuse will not help them in any way. While it may feel like you are doing the right thing, enabling them will delay recovery and keep them from overcoming their issues. Avoid picking up the pieces of their life that they are destroying while giving into their addiction. A professional at the treatment center you choose can help you and your loved one understand the difference between enabling and supportive behavior.

Refrain From Becoming Codependent

When drug addiction is involved, relationships can become complicated. As a result, the relationship could end up being codependent. Over the course of time helping your loved one, your view of reality might become distorted. Codependency is often wrapped up in difficult-to-define enabling behaviors and boundaries. It is important that you speak with a professional to help you refresh your perspective and continue to make good choices for yourself and your loved one going forward.

Don’t Let Taking Care Of Yourself Take A Backseat

A very important thing to remember is not to lose sight of taking care of yourself while you are helping your loved one fight their addiction. It can be easy to get wrapped up in their care and ensure they are taken care of and making the necessary steps towards recovery that you forget about yourself. Even while your loved one is in a treatment facility, there are many opportunities for you and other close family members to attend family therapy sessions or support groups to help reinforce the loved one’s long-term transformation. The more people that surround a loved one with addiction and support them, the better their chances of recovery will be.

These are some of the most important tips to take into consideration when helping a loved one with drug addiction. For most, the journey of recovery is going to be a very long and difficult one. Addicts who have support from loved ones have the best chance of success and are less likely to relapse later on.