Addiction impacts everyone around it, not just the addicted individual. There are many important pieces of recovery, including mental health support, online substance abuse therapy, and family and friends coming together in support.
Forty-eight million Americans live with addiction, according to The New York Times. But the numerous tools on the market can help to change a person’s lifestyle.
Understanding Addiction and Recovery
Professionals state that addiction can happen to anyone. One in six Americans experiences a substance abuse issue in their lifetime, according to the CDC. It could have happened to you instead of them.
Addiction to any substance–alcohol, drugs, opioids, or stimulants–has a huge effect on the brain. Every time the substance hits the system, the brain is then flooded with chemicals, which feels like a reward. As the substance is taken again and again, the brain needs more to feel the same way. At the same time, the urge to resist taking the substance goes down, which only increases the nasty addictive cycle.
It is important for the person’s support system to know that addiction, while a disease, is treatable. But it is not a matter of willpower and simply resisting temptation. Recovery may take medication, rehab, therapy, and other treatments.
Practical Ways to Offer Emotional Support
When a loved one is addicted to something, you will need to support them emotionally. There are certainly plenty of things you can do. Here are a few to consider:
- Take Care of Yourself
Your loved one needs lots of care and support to get through the long recovery process. Being there for them is important, but to really be of use to them, you need to care for yourself first and foremost.
- Listen
Be available to listen to your loved one at all times. Having someone they know and love to talk things through with, in addition to a therapist, can mean a lot to them. Don’t judge. Don’t offer solutions. Just listen and be there for them.
- Humanize Them
Once an addicted individual is ready to accept help, they recognize what they are doing is wrong, and they want to change things in their life. Remember that they are only human and don’t blame them for the things they did while they were on certain substances. One of the biggest ways you can support them is to offer them forgiveness. They are only human, and addiction can happen to anyone.
Supporting Their Recovery Plan
Once your loved one is ready for psychological help to aid them through addiction recovery, they will need your love and support to get through it. Here are a few ways you can support them through the recovery process:
- Follow the Rules
Whether your loved one is in a treatment center or under a therapist’s care, learn the rules of the recovery process and follow them. If you are not to send food to them at the treatment center, don’t. These rules are in place for a reason; follow them and support your loved one at the same time.
- Abstain Around Them
If you drink alcohol or use the substance your loved one was abusing, abstain around them to support their sober life.
- Learn About the Abuse
There’s a lot to learn about addiction cycles, and when you support a person going through recovery, learn as much as you can about those cycles. It’s possible your loved one needs depression support, for example. Depression can lead people to overdo it with substances in an effort to feel normal.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
While you want to do anything you can to support your loved one through their addiction recovery, it’s also a good idea to set health boundaries with them. There are many to consider. Here are a few you might place on your list:
- Proper Treatment
You deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, and it’s okay to demand that, even from someone going through recovery.
- Money Lending
You may have had trouble with your loved one in the past. They would ask for money, and you would give it, enabling their addictive behavior. Set a boundary line and let them know there will be no money exchange in your relationship.
Encouraging Long-Term Wellness
Your loved one will need long-term mental health support to continue their recovery and remain sober throughout their life. Don’t compromise your beliefs and values for them, but rather embrace them on this path. Reject requests they may make that are uncomfortable to you, and encourage their treatment path and therapy sessions.
In conclusion
Addiction can strike anyone, and if it impacts someone close to you, Mindful Care is here to help them through recovery and beyond. Staying steady in your steady support, empathy, and kindness can influence an addicted person’s long-term recovery. Recovery is a process, and it can take longer than you’d hope. The best way to help is by consistently showing up, even in small ways.
