Addiction is an equalizer; it can happen to anyone. Seeing someone you love struggling with addiction can be overwhelming. It can make you feel anxious, worried, and frustrated. It can also be challenging to accept that someone you love has an addiction.
Helping someone will require empathy, patience, and an understanding of what addiction is– encouraging them to seek help and to provide support. Assuring them that you are with them every step of the way. Here are some of the ways we can encourage seeking help.
Approach with Understanding and Compassion
Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences (NIDA). The brain becomes biologically dependent on drugs and will prioritize drugs even if they cause adverse effects in life and relationships. It’s not a lack of willpower or motivation to change but a physiological dependence on drugs. Understanding the nature of addiction allows us to be compassionate and kind.
Listen without Judgement
Avoid getting into arguments to prove that he is an addict. Denial is one of the hallmarks of addiction. Many people struggling with addiction are not ready to accept help and would minimize drug use and the extent their lives were affected by it. Hence, approach these conversations with patience and not blame. The goal is to listen and acknowledge the struggle and for them to seek help. Let them know that you understand how difficult it is to overcome and you are there to help and not judge.
Roll with the Resistance and Encourage Change Talk
Instead of confronting, pushing, and arguing roll with the resistance. This means adapting our communication style to a person’s emotional and mental state while guiding them to seek help. The confrontation approach will only push them away from seeking help and further into denial. Try showing empathy and support change talks. Here is an example of a response to a conversation.
Statement: “I’m okay. I have stopped for three days now. I don’t need help”
Confrontational Approach: “Your life is a mess. Look at this place. You haven’t gone to the office and barely go out. You’re sick and you’re not asking for help!”
Rolling with Resistance: You are making good progress now. Stopping drug use is a huge step. What motivated you to take action?”
See how different the outcomes will become by merely changing the way we respond to conversations.
Encourage Help
Groups and Meetings offer a supportive environment where participants share their struggles and victories. Encourage them to seek professional help through drug treatment programs. These programs provide a combination of medical, counseling, and therapeutic support not available in groups and meetings. However, allow them to explore options based on actions they developed rather than providing them steps they do not have ownership of.
In conclusion, listen without being judgemental; guide without pushing, and encourage help-seeking behavior. Recovery is a process, it takes time. Stay patient and compassionate, offer consistent support, and encourage them to reach out to professionals when ready.
