Searching for Help
Millions of people in the U.S struggle with addiction. This sounds grim, but it also means that if you or someone you care for are struggling with it, you are not alone. Research and resources for addiction are advancing all the time in order to provide care for those who want and need it.
If you are looking for help for someone with addiction, please proceed with an open mind and compassion, and seek information that is written with care and scientific understanding. There is a lot of misinformation and stigma around addiction and mental illness, and it’s important to be vigilant about these false and harmful ideas that make it even more difficult to receive help. To learn more about how to help with recovery, see https://gahope.org/how-to-show-support-to-someone-in-recovery/.
If you have a loved one who is struggling, it’s best to talk to them openly and honestly about this issue and let them know that you think they should start the recovery process. Be gentle when bringing up the idea of rehab, and assure them that you are there for them to support them through their treatment. Your loved one needs normality and kindness in their regular life while they are going through rehab or recovery.
Compassionate Care
It’s important to seek care that will provide support and understanding to those recovering from an addiction. People in need of such support are often treated with stigma and suspicion instead, but drug use and addiction are not moral qualities or signs of weakness. People seeking recovery need to be treated with the same respect as anyone else, and this extends to the care offered by medical professionals, counselors, and rehab centers.
Somewhere close to home may be best for your loved one, so that they can see their social circle during recovery and maintain a sense of normality. To get some resources nearby, see this list of rehab facilities in Littleton for information from local facilities.
Your loved one’s ability to contact home or have visitors may be limited depending on what type of treatment they’re receiving. It’s important to give them any support you can while they are in treatment, but for those times that you don’t have complete access to them, remember that they are in the care of medical professionals. This is why it’s important to find a good source of care for them, and to listen to their needs and check in with them when possible. It will also be important to help them adjust after treatment and continue their recovery at home.
How to Help at Home
If you or a loved one are trying to recover from addiction or make changes in your life, it’s important to have a holistic approach that involves more than outside resources or treatment. Not everyone has the time or means to pursue traditional treatment methods, and recovery also involves taking steps at home.
Someone in recovery will need a safe space and calm environment at home to relieve their stress and to be free from, or more equipped to deal with, any triggers that might lead to using and other problems. They will need ways to spend their time and methods of clearing stress without harmful drug use or similar unhealthy coping mechanisms. If you have a loved one in need, do what you can to help provide this space for them. Offer them opportunities to confide in you and let them know if they can call you when they need immediate help.
People in recovery sometimes struggle with guilt or shame. You may be able to help by reassuring them. Whatever point of recovery they’re in, they deserve to be reminded that they have nothing to be ashamed of. They may need encouragement to keep going and to be kind to themselves. They will need to be shown kindness and treated as close to normal as possible while acknowledging their struggle. Finding this balance will depend on the person, so make sure to have open communication and respond to their needs.
Just like people with another mental illness like anxiety or depression may have triggers which can lead to an episode, most people struggling with addiction also have triggers that cause them stress and could lead to them using drugs in a harmful manner. If your loved one is willing and able to confide their triggers to you, you can help them create a safe environment and avoid them.
Try to do research on drug addiction and the kinds of treatment and support that work best. We’ve learned a lot about addiction over the years, and modern addiction treatment focuses on evidence-based, compassionate care for the people who need it. You can better help your loved one by understanding what they’re going through and setting aside the judgment that society placed on drug addiction.
Understand that relapse often happens, and it does not mean that recovery has stopped or that you or your loved one have failed. It just means that recovery is a process, and there are ups and downs to this journey. For more information on addiction recovering, see this page on treatment and some of the different options that are available for those in need: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
Moving Forward Together
No man is an island, and recovering from illness or difficult circumstances is a challenge better taken on with help. If your loved one has confided in you, they will appreciate your efforts to support them during this time.
One of the most important things you can do is simply to be there for your loved one and listen. Structured treatment from mental health professionals will help them form the tools to live a better life, but you can help reinforce those tools and encourage them in their recovery. Make sure to take care of yourself too and have your own support to help you process stress during this time. And most of all, have faith in your loved one, and in yourself.
