Helping a Loved One Recover From Addiction
There is a lot of talk about how we can help a friend or a family member with letting go of their addictions. It’s all about admitting the problem, seeking help, and taking care of yourself, right? Yet, the real work starts when the regular weekdays hit us, and it’s supposedly back to normal - and this is when your loved one needs your help more than ever.
Here is a straightforward guide to how you can help a friend or a family member with recovering from an addiction, whether it’s alcohol or drug abuse. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines of how you can offer to help, though, and it’s not always that much you can do unless the person actually wants to quit.
#1 Help them to find a substitute
We all know the psychology behind an addiction; the reward-centre in our brains are tuned into responding to the stimulus of that addiction, and little else is going to give the same feeling of warmth and love.
Going cold-turkey and expecting to not feel a craving for that stimulus is going to take a lot of work, and the world may look rather grim if they cannot find a substitute.
They may not get the same kind of rush from it, but there are always ways to compensate for the lack of that warm feeling they used to get from whatever they are addicted to. Exercise is a sure winner and has helped many to recover from an addiction.
Don’t expect your friend to go to the gym on their own, though, as they will need that extra push to get started. If they’re straight out of a general addiction clinic or a PTSD trauma addiction clinic, it’s a good idea to let their body recover a bit first. Take them on walks, be out in nature, and let exercise become their go-to source of endorphins.
#2 Say you want to help
Asking for help can be really tough, so make it clear that you’re there to help as soon as possible. Sometimes, they will ask you directly and that’s great - but you can’t count on them to ask for it, even if they really need it.
Talk to them about how you can help them to recover; maybe they’d like you to take their mind off their situation by just hanging out together, maybe they want you to introduce them to some of your other friends so that they get out of a toxic network, or maybe they just need someone to talk to.
Whatever they need in order to recover successfully and stay clean, make it clear that you’re their go-to person in case of an emergency - and just on a regular basis as well.
The last point is important as someone recovering from an addiction might worry about being a burden to those around them. If you say you’re there to help but never answer their calls, they’re quickly going to withdraw. Follow up on your promises and be available if you’ve promised to be there for them 24/7.
#3 Help them to reclaim themselves
For someone who has been battling an addiction and is currently recovering, it’s easy to see how this might take over their lives. It’s almost as if their addiction has started to define them, and this isn’t how it should be at all. Instead, try to help your friend or family member to reclaim who they used to be.
It might mean getting interested in their usual hobbies or talents again so that they’re able to get that great feeling from things they used to enjoy. When spending time with others, improving yourself, and enjoying your hobbies have become the highlights of their lives rather than an addiction, you know they’re on the right track.
This might, however, take time and you shouldn’t give up on someone just because they’re not recovering as fast as you hoped they would. Show them that you care and that you’re there to help, and you’re already doing a lot for them.
