Mistakes Families Make When Dealing With Addict Loved One
Not many people, including those living with a person going through substance addiction, understand that addiction is a disease and have many misconceptions about what it truly is due to lack of awareness regarding rehab and medical detox. This often results in friends and family detaching themselves from a loved one with a substance abuse problem because they don’t know how to deal with the person.
If you have a loved one living with active addiction, keep reading to know what mistakes you should avoid.
Believing you can do nothing about it
Hopelessness can be demoralizing, and you don’t need it, especially when trying to help someone with active addiction. If you let this condition take control of you, you will feel like a failure and destroyed. Moreover, it’s important to know that everything you feel and do affects the people around you, and you would not want your loved one dealing with addiction to get those “hopeless” vibes.
Waiting too long for intervention
The deadliest mistake families and friends make waiting. Most people believe they need to wait until their loved one has hit the “rock bottom” phase of addiction before calling an intervention. You must remember that you cannot rely on time when trying to get someone off their addiction. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you address the person as soon as you notice the first signs of such behavior and talk to professionals from drug rehab in Las Vegas to acquire knowledge.
Odd behaviours and signs of drug abuse may include hanging out with the wrong group, stealing money, or missing work, and take early action, as it will make your loved one more likely to listen to you.
Playing the blame game
It’s a common pattern when a loved one struggles with addiction, families, and friends play the blame game by pointing fingers at the addict or each other. However, it’s important to keep in mind that blaming the person dealing with addiction for their past wrongdoings would not do any good; in fact, it may trigger a relapse.
So, if you want to help your loved one achieve sobriety early, you would have to let go of their past mistakes and forgive them for making their healing and recovery process easier and quicker. Therefore, it is advised to family members not to blame the person with addiction at any point in their recovery process.
Impatiently waiting for results
When your loved one have successfully completed their recovery program from a rehab and are out in the world again, don’t assume that they are “cured.” Recovery from addiction takes time—it’s a lifelong journey. Therefore, it is advised that you as family or friends keep patience and do not rush the person to become sober right away. Since, memories can trigger a relapse after someone has quit drugs or alcohol, it may require ample time, strength and determination to get through the phase, and you must support your loved one in the process.
Help your loved one to get their life back on track, including career, relationships, finances, and emotional and physical health.
Conclusion
Therefore, try not to make the above mistakes when dealing with a loved one living with addiction, and support them as recovery isn’t possible without a support network. Since the loved ones play a significant role in a person’s drug recovery process, it can become emotionally taxing for you as well. So, it’s equally important to take care of yourself too, while helping your loved ones through their recovery.