Best Ways to Support a Loved One Suffering from Addiction
What Are the Best Ways to Support a Loved One Suffering from Addiction?
If you have a loved one who suffers from addiction, you know it can be extremely difficult and even heartbreaking. You know they need support, but you may not know the best way to provide them with the support they need. You may even find yourself providing “support,” but then find it is only contributing to their addiction (despite your best intentions).
Below are some ways that you can support your loved one who is suffering from addiction, along with a potential solution to meet their recovery needs…
The Best Ways to Support Your Loved One
There are a few things you can do to provide support for your loved one in their time of need. Some of the best ways to support a loved one suffering from addiction include:
Letting Them Know You Are There for Them
A powerful first step is simply showing your support for your loved one and letting them know that you are there for them. Addiction can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. Simply knowing they have someone in their corner can help your loved one find the strength to make the decision to get the help they need.
Encouraging (but Not Pushing) Treatment
There is a big difference between encouraging a loved one to seek treatment and forcing it on them. There are exceptions to this (for instance, if you have a child that requires treatment), but as a general rule, you should be cautious with how you position treatment as a solution. If you push too hard, you may end up pushing your loved one away.
Be encouraging about your loved one seeking treatment and let them know you are there to help. Let them know you will be alongside them throughout their journey. With that said, you still need to allow them to take the necessary steps and find their own way.
Offering Support in Researching Resources
One way you can be helpful (without being pushy) is by offering to support your loved one with researching the right resources to meet their recovery goals. This is something you can either do ahead of time or after you speak with them about considering treatment.
If you are looking for an outstanding resource to help your loved one with their recovery journey, consider Front Door Health. We offer comprehensive, individualized care for those with addiction, behavioral health, and mental health conditions. We’d be happy to discuss what treatment options may be available for your loved one.
Setting Boundaries
While providing your loved one with support and being helpful is important, it’s also important to set boundaries and stick to them.
Boundaries help you to provide your loved one with the support they need to get better without enabling or contributing to their addiction. They are also helpful for you, as they ensure you aren’t being taken advantage of emotionally and financially.
If you are serious about your loved one getting the help they need, set firm boundaries and stick to them.
Educating Yourself
Educating yourself about addiction and even the specific substance or behavior your loved one is addicted to can help you become a better advocate. While you should leave treatment to trained professionals, educating yourself can at least help you to better understand what they are going through, empathize, and set appropriate boundaries.
Being Patient and Supportive
Being patient and supportive can be a lot more difficult than it sounds. Especially in early treatment or when you approach your loved one about treatment, they may push back and say and do things they don’t mean. While you definitely will want to stick to your boundaries, where you are able to, you’ll want to be patient and supportive. They should know that they have someone in their corner rooting for their success.
Treatment Options
There are a variety of different treatment options available, which include inpatient care, outpatient care, and in-home treatment. While traditional “treatment as usual” methods have their advantages, they also have a lot of drawbacks. Often, they require a patient to either move into a treatment center or travel to the center multiple times throughout the week. The treatment itself often involves group sessions, with less room for individualized care.
An alternative to the “treatment as usual” approach that many people aren’t aware of is in-home treatment. This form of treatment allows the patient to receive the same level of care from the comfort of their own home, around their schedule. This means no travel, no group sessions, and no taking time off work or school.
About Front Door Health
Front Door Health provides concierge, judgment-free in-home treatment for patients when they need it. We take an evidence-based approach to treatment, and we create custom treatment plans for our patients to increase their chances of success. Our treatment process is client-focused and individualized. This means no group sessions with strangers and no “treatment as usual” approach. Your loved one is unique, and the treatment plan we create for them is designed to meet them where they are along their journey and help them reach their recovery goals.
We understand that it can be difficult for an individual seeking treatment to put their life on hold and take time off work. Our in-home treatment allows patients to continue to meet their work, school, family, and other obligations while receiving the treatment they deserve.
If you would like to learn more about in-home treatment, contact Front Door Health today. We’re happy to answer any questions and provide your loved one with the help they need.
info@frontdoorhealthcenter.com
