Noticing A Problem

There may come a time when one can no longer deny it. Your loved one clearly has a problem with either drugs or alcohol. Whether that loved one started missing out on important events, spent all of their money on their habit, or have reached a level of poor health that you are genuinely concerned for them, it is time to approach them about seeking help at an addiction treatment center.

It may also be likely that you know nothing about drug rehab treatment. You may not even understand addiction as a whole. You just know that your loved one is in trouble and you want to help them find a recovery program that works for them. For those who are concerned about someone they love and their addiction problem, consider some of these tips that may help convince them that it is time to consider addiction rehabilitation.

Education

The first step that you should take is to educate yourself on addiction. This is especially true for those who are not addicted to drugs or alcohol themselves. It can be difficult to understand how your loved one reached the place they’re currently at. This misunderstanding could cause you to say the wrong things and drive your loved one even deeper into their addiction.

So, first take the time to research addiction and its role in the brain. It is especially important to understand that addiction is a disease. However, just like all diseases, it is possible to treat. Another aspect of research that could prove beneficial to the conversation is researching drug rehabs both close by and around the country. Finding one with the right sort of program for your loved one is crucial to the success of their recovery.

Armed with this knowledge, they can then start to speak to their loved one about attending an addiction treatment center.

Be Open

As one might expect, this conversation is going to be extremely vulnerable to all of those involved. No one likes to be told that they have a problem. Depending on the severity of the addiction, they may be quite stubborn and unwilling to admit they have a problem let alone desire a fix for it. Because of this, it is up to you to be open and honest. By creating that environment, the loved one struggling with addiction may be more open to truly examining themselves and the choices they’ve made as well as the state that they’re in.

It also helps to make yourself vulnerable as well. Perhaps by finding out the cause or trigger that set the addicted loved one off to drugs and alcohol in the first place, you can relate to them. By forging that connection, they may be more inclined to speak with you and see that because someone else lived through the situation without resorting to drugs or alcohol, so can they.

That being said, it is important not to phrase the conversation in such a way that may seem like one is self-righteous. Everyone makes mistakes and it is important that they understand that their loved one has made them as well. It is also extremely important to keep the tone of your voice calm and soft. If one appears aggressive or judgmental, then it is likely that the loved one will close up and shrug off one’s concern.

Appeal To Responsibilites

If the loved one has a family, such as children, or they are responsible for someone or something, then it may prove wise to appeal to their sense of duty. Children, especially, can be helpful in encouraging them to change their perspective on the way in which their bad habit may be affecting others. For example, if they have missed an important birthday or wedding, you might be able to use that to show how badly the addiction has become. That being said, it is important not to utilize guilt too much. If they already feel that they are a poor parent or incapable of responsibilities, then receiving help at an addiction rehabilitation likely isn’t going to change that. They may feel that the health consequences of their actions are deserved.

However, if one believes that their loved one may be responsive to the pleas of those closest to them, it may be a sound tactic to utilize.

Support

When speaking with the addicted individual, it is also extremely important that they know that they are supported. Many people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction feel alone and isolated. Those who share their bad habits may sometimes feel like the only people who care about them–when in fact they really just want their money. By making the loved one feel loved and supported, they may be more open to seeking recovery. Especially if they believe that one is going to be there to help them through it every step of the way.

For those who have a family, it may be prudent–after the conversation has been had–that they also offer their support as a whole. By feeling that massive amount of support, they can feel empowered to defeat their addiction and return to sobriety.

Hope

Living with an addiction is a very dark place to be. While some fall into addiction because they experimented at a few parties, others are driven to addiction in order to deal with traumatic situations and environments. At some point, even those who are using substances to have fun reach a point where it isn’t fun anymore. Especially true for those who have used for a long time, they may feel that recovery isn’t possible for them.

Armed with one’s knowledge of addiction, one can assure them that everyone can recover. By giving them hope that they, too, have a chance of being sober again, they may feel that they could have a positive experience at and after rehab.