It isn’t easy watching someone you love struggle with substance addiction. When there’s an underlying physical condition like a back injury and associated chronic pain contributing to the addiction, it can be even harder to help them break their addictive cycle because the pain may still be there once they’ve recovered from their injury.
Perhaps the most important component of successfully reaching out and helping someone going through this kind of struggle is to know how to approach them without offending them. Here are some previously successful approaches:
Take A Cultural Perspective
Every culture has a different understanding of what an addict is. In Japan and Europe, people drink a lot more than they do in the United States, yet they’re not seen as being alcoholics.
If you spend time online learning what different cultures consider to be addictive behavior, it can help you speak to your loved one openly about their own circumstances and where they fit on a global spectrum.
If it works out they’re clearly in the throes of an addictive cycle, having them understand you want to help can prepare them for the next step.
Using A Recovery Center
If you’re committed to finding positive recovery assistance for your family member, talk to a leading recovery center, like Willow Tree Recovery. They’re very skilled at providing you with suggestions and information regarding their specific approach to breaking the addictive cycle.
If, like Willow Tree, they have a strong track record of success, it can make it easier to talk to your family member about their services because they can see how it will benefit them.
Group Intervention
This is a tried and true method with one caveat: you need to plan it so the group of friends creates solutions for the person that needs help is absolutely perfect when it comes to their approach to the person that needs help. It can be intimidating, and create conditions that cause offense if you do not approach the situation correctly.
Get Medical Help
With some types of drug addiction, there are certain drugs that can be prescribed so that addicts can have a soft landing and regain their functionality ending their addiction.
To consider these options, your loved one would need to speak with a medical professional. Doctors, psychologists and more medical professionals can work together to find a solution that works best.
Psychologist Intervention
Encouraging a family member to see a psychologist about their substance addiction is a very good way to help. It can put the services of a psychologist in a position to help your family member understand they need to take the next step in order to start recovering.
Frequently, they may feel more comfortable talking to someone they don’t know. This can help get them on the path to recovery. It also gives them a safe place to share confidential and personal struggles they probably don’t want close friends and family to know about. It gives them someone to talk to without feeling judged or guilty about their addiction.
Addiction is something that can be overcome if a person wants to, and if they have the support from the people they are closest to. If you can help your family member to come to the same conclusion you have without offending them, they will likely begin the recovery process sooner. Taking small steps to help your loved one can make a big difference in their life.
Have you bitten by a dog? How about by the same dog more than once? Click here to learn what “dog” bites have in common with addictive behaviors?
