comes to addiction and the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse every person approaches it differently. Living with addiction is difficult as it is, and a lot of people know they need help but they find it at times difficult to do so, and some are even reluctant. There are people that even deny that they even have an addiction problem, to begin with.
As you can imagine this complicates recovery for someone who is struggling with addiction in various ways. It also takes a toll on their family members and those who love them. Being that it is difficult for someone who is struggling to get the support that they need when it comes to addiction, that makes it more crucial for their support system to find them the help they need. They need to do this in the most gentle, loving, and caring way possible.
A lot of times when we struggle with our problems, the truth is hard to accept. It takes a lot of repeated effort to convince your loved one that they have an addiction issue and that they need help. They could be in denial because of fear, not wanting to acknowledge they have a problem, or not being keen on the idea of having to participate in a rehab program. Either way, no matter the various reasons, it simply can be a difficult task to have your struggling loved one come on board to accept and get help.
In order to get someone to acknowledge they need help, the person who is trying to get them to see they have an addiction problem needs to want to help them for all the right reasons. They need to actually care. If they do not care, it will only backfire and become a devastating setback for the person struggling with the addiction in getting the help they need.
These people need genuine love. You need to start with understanding the person first. There’s a reason why they have an addiction, to begin with. It’s not easy for them and there’s a lot of pain behind addiction. You may not need to know their specific pain, but understand there is pain. Understanding is the first of five ways to help a person recover prior to rehab even beginning.
1. Key to Understanding
In understanding someone, especially when it comes to something as challenging as dealing with addiction. The first thing needed to be done is to validate them. You don’t need to respond to them, just listen to them. More than likely than not, they have heard a lot of critiques and perhaps even judgments. Including self-perceived criticisms from others and even from within their own head. Even though they might not fully be aware that their substance abuse is an issue in their life, they still deserve to be understood.
Sitting down and hearing their hearts to understand that addiction is mainly a symptom of something greater in the grand scheme of things. It’s best to identify the core versus alleviate the effects of it because all that truly does is place a bandage over it and never solve the issue. If you identify the core and resolve the issue pertaining to that, the disease can be cured. Though to begin, one must first sit down and have that open heart conversation.
Depression, anxiety, and peer pressure are usually the result of most cases when it comes to addiction. It is important to take apart and distinguish the side-effect that is an addiction and discover the root cause. Afterward, when this is complete, the person will realize how much you really care for them. Taking the time to listen to someone shows you care and often they really desire someone to listen to them. Most people just want to be heard, most often.
It can be very difficult to open up to somebody, especially a loved one. It puts a person in a place of vulnerability. It’s important to show that you are trustworthy and can be trusted. It’s best to communicate to them that you understand without actually saying, “I understand.”
Effectively Communicating
Communicating effectively includes the following:
- Asking Questions: The last thing someone wants is for a person to give unsolicited long-winded advice. That is why it’s best to refrain from talking as much. Try to ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions give the person an opportunity to process their thoughts.
- Comprehension: To understand a person completely, you need to actively comprehend what a person is saying in order to communicate effectively. In doing so, you will be able to ask more meaningful questions and understand responses. This will help a person process their thoughts much better as well.
- Repetition: It’s truly important when a person answers a question or makes a statement, you repeat what your thoughts are of what you heard back to them. In doing so this helps them confirm what it is that they’ve said and also proves to them that you were engaged and listening to what they were saying.
- Body language: Body language is important when communicating in understanding when it comes to active listening. It is equally as important as the skills above. Eye contact and maintaining it along with keeping a relaxed posture will be helpful in helping someone feel they are able to freely communicate openly and honestly.
Communication has been challenging for humans. Naturally, they have had a difficult time doing it successfully; being that it’s in our nature. Not saying it is a skill that cannot be eventually mastered, it’s just a skill that is more difficult to accomplish in learning. Though, if you can obtain these principles of effective communication, and show your display of understanding and effective skills as well, you will be able to gain the trust of those you are speaking with.
Talking to Somebody
Seeking wise counsel after talking to someone with an addiction is important. If you cannot find wise counsel, it’s important to find anyone to talk to who can just listen to you. Your mind might be overloaded. You could even find yourself in a crisis where the world can seem to be crashing around you. In times like these, it is normal to be feeling this way.
Substance abuse affects everybody around them, not just the one with the addiction. It’s such a messy disease that is so devastating and harmful. It’s like an entire piece of fabric stained, representing a person’s entire family, and social circle even. Not just the sleeve of the person who is struggling with the addiction.
Understanding those who struggle with addiction is important, but admitting that you need someone to understand you is just as equally as important too. You need to process your emotions as well so you can continue to help those who suffer from substance abuse. You more than likely need to have validation and be affirmed.
Watching a loved one. Oftentimes, struggle with substance abuse can create a black hole for depression or anxiety to manifest. This is the reality as to why it is very important to put self-care first for yourself before you try to care for anyone else.
Doing Your Research
It’s important to know the education pieces of recovery properly when trying to lead someone away from substance abuse. There are specific needs the person is needing that is necessary for their recovery and knowing the difference between the differences such as inpatient care, outpatient care, detox treatment, and general therapy, is very important in confronting the needs of the individual needing help.
comes to addiction and the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse every person approaches it differently. Living with addiction is difficult as it is, and a lot of people know they need help but they find it at times difficult to do so, and some are even reluctant. There are people that even deny that they even have an addiction problem, to begin with.
As you can imagine this complicates recovery for someone who is struggling with addiction in various ways. It also takes a toll on their family members and those who love them. Being that it is difficult for someone who is struggling to get the support that they need when it comes to addiction, that makes it more crucial for their support system to find them the help they need. They need to do this in the most gentle, loving, and caring way possible.
A lot of times when we struggle with our problems, the truth is hard to accept. It takes a lot of repeated effort to convince your loved one that they have an addiction issue and that they need help. They could be in denial because of fear, not wanting to acknowledge they have a problem, or not being keen on the idea of having to participate in a rehab program. Either way, no matter the various reasons, it simply can be a difficult task to have your struggling loved one come on board to accept and get help.
In order to get someone to acknowledge they need help, the person who is trying to get them to see they have an addiction problem needs to want to help them for all the right reasons. They need to actually care. If they do not care, it will only backfire and become a devastating setback for the person struggling with the addiction in getting the help they need.
These people need genuine love. You need to start with understanding the person first. There’s a reason why they have an addiction, to begin with. It’s not easy for them and there’s a lot of pain behind addiction. You may not need to know their specific pain, but understand there is pain. Understanding is the first of five ways to help a person recover prior to rehab even beginning.
1. Key to Understanding
In understanding someone, especially when it comes to something as challenging as dealing with addiction. The first thing needed to be done is to validate them. You don’t need to respond to them, just listen to them. More than likely than not, they have heard a lot of critiques and perhaps even judgments. Including self-perceived criticisms from others and even from within their own head. Even though they might not fully be aware that their substance abuse is an issue in their life, they still deserve to be understood.
Sitting down and hearing their hearts to understand that addiction is mainly a symptom of something greater in the grand scheme of things. It’s best to identify the core versus alleviate the effects of it because all that truly does is place a bandage over it and never solve the issue. If you identify the core and resolve the issue pertaining to that, the disease can be cured. Though to begin, one must first sit down and have that open heart conversation.
Depression, anxiety, and peer pressure are usually the result of most cases when it comes to addiction. It is important to take apart and distinguish the side-effect that is an addiction and discover the root cause. Afterward, when this is complete, the person will realize how much you really care for them. Taking the time to listen to someone shows you care and often they really desire someone to listen to them. Most people just want to be heard, most often.
It can be very difficult to open up to somebody, especially a loved one. It puts a person in a place of vulnerability. It’s important to show that you are trustworthy and can be trusted. It’s best to communicate to them that you understand without actually saying, “I understand.”
Effectively Communicating
Communicating effectively includes the following:
- Asking Questions: The last thing someone wants is for a person to give unsolicited long-winded advice. That is why it’s best to refrain from talking as much. Try to ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions give the person an opportunity to process their thoughts.
- Comprehension: To understand a person completely, you need to actively comprehend what a person is saying in order to communicate effectively. In doing so, you will be able to ask more meaningful questions and understand responses. This will help a person process their thoughts much better as well.
- Repetition: It’s truly important when a person answers a question or makes a statement, you repeat what your thoughts are of what you heard back to them. In doing so this helps them confirm what it is that they’ve said and also proves to them that you were engaged and listening to what they were saying.
- Body language: Body language is important when communicating in understanding when it comes to active listening. It is equally as important as the skills above. Eye contact and maintaining it along with keeping a relaxed posture will be helpful in helping someone feel they are able to freely communicate openly and honestly.
Communication has been challenging for humans. Naturally, they have had a difficult time doing it successfully; being that it’s in our nature. Not saying it is a skill that cannot be eventually mastered, it’s just a skill that is more difficult to accomplish in learning. Though, if you can obtain these principles of effective communication, and show your display of understanding and effective skills as well, you will be able to gain the trust of those you are speaking with.
Talking to Somebody
Seeking wise counsel after talking to someone with an addiction is important. If you cannot find wise counsel, it’s important to find anyone to talk to who can just listen to you. Your mind might be overloaded. You could even find yourself in a crisis where the world can seem to be crashing around you. In times like these, it is normal to be feeling this way.
Substance abuse affects everybody around them, not just the one with the addiction. It’s such a messy disease that is so devastating and harmful. It’s like an entire piece of fabric stained, representing a person’s entire family, and social circle even. Not just the sleeve of the person who is struggling with the addiction.
Understanding those who struggle with addiction is important, but admitting that you need someone to understand you is just as equally as important too. You need to process your emotions as well so you can continue to help those who suffer from substance abuse. You more than likely need to have validation and be affirmed.
Watching a loved one. Oftentimes, struggle with substance abuse can create a black hole for depression or anxiety to manifest. This is the reality as to why it is very important to put self-care first for yourself before you try to care for anyone else.
Doing Your Research
It’s important to know the education pieces of recovery properly when trying to lead someone away from substance abuse. There are specific needs the person is needing that is necessary for their recovery and knowing the difference between the differences such as inpatient care, outpatient care, detox treatment, and general therapy, is very important in confronting the needs of the individual needing help.
