Ways To Cope When A Loved One Is Addicted

Addiction affects every aspect of a person’s life and the lives of loved ones. It is a complicated disease and can be hard for family and friends to understand and cope with its effects. Addiction interferes with relationships and can make loved ones feel helpless, hopeless, and alone. Substance use disorder and recovery support affect every aspect of a person’s life and the lives of loved ones. It is a complicated disease and can be hard for family and friends to understand and cope with its effects.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is “characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences.” Drug abuse and addiction increase a person’s risk of developing severe mental and physical illnesses that can be life-threatening. The toxic effects of the drugs themselves can also cause psychological and physical illnesses.

A person who struggles with addiction may limit their time around loved ones. They may frequently be absent from family gatherings, special events, and holidays. Addiction is isolating and can make you feel guilt, shame, and low self-esteem, making it difficult for your loved one to come around.

Strategies to Help You Cope

Learn as much as you can about addiction. Addiction is a complex disease that makes physical and physiological changes to the brain and affects how the central nervous system works. Stopping drug or alcohol use is very difficult because a person will go through uncomfortable and sometimes painful withdrawals.

Look into your local support groups. Groups such as Al-Anon or CoDA have other loved ones who have watched their family or friends go through addiction. You can meet other people who struggle in similar situations. Join an online forum or a group on social media that relates to addiction. Ask questions and get advice or from others.

Set boundaries and follow through with consequences to show your loved one what is off-limits. This will help them to respect your rules and space. Plan expectations ahead of time and follow through with consequences. Boundaries ensure that you are not enabling your loved one’s behavior. Boundaries can be scary. However, if there is no follow-through on ramifications, your intentions are quickly dismissed as frivolous, your credibility is shot, and your word is like quicksand.

Encourage your loved one to get help and offer support and compassion. Many who struggle with addiction also suffer from an underlying co-occurring mental health disorder. Never use shameful words or a negative tone when talking to your loved one. Keep communication with your loved one open, positive, and supportive. Try to use language that does not condemn and avoid getting angry or raising your voice. When you communicate from a place of compassion, you might get a better response from your loved one.

Healing Relationships after Addiction

Family and friends suffer a range of emotions, including guilt, anger, frustration, and helplessness. We cannot control another person’s behavior, and healing relationships after addiction will take time. Recovery does not happen overnight, and neither does the repair of damaged relationships. A person in recovery will need help and support in their recovery journey, but they might be hesitant to independently ask for it. They might feel guilty for their behavior. Being there for your loved ones, and offering your time to them is one of the best things you can do to heal and repair that relationship.

Loved ones and supporters who were affected by addiction make the recovery process more comfortable. Many relationships can be damaged by addiction, but your effort to improve interactions with your loved one is a significant part of their sobriety. Mending broken relationships can be critical in developing a fulfilling life after addiction.

Addiction is a disease that affects the individual and the lives of loved ones. A person cannot be forced into treatment and recovery but can be influenced to get help with love, support, and encouragement.

Conclusion

Watching a loved one struggle with addiction can be challenging. You may feel guilt, shame, embarrassment, fear, or other wide ranges of emotions. However, there are ways to cope and encourage your loved one to seek help. The most crucial step in coping is taking care of yourself. Look into support groups such as Al-Anon or CoDA to meet other individuals who have been impacted by others’ substance abuse. Educate yourself on the disease so you can approach your loved one from a place of understanding. When addressing treatment, ensure you are coming from a loving and caring place.