If you are concerned about your loved one’s drinking or drug use, you may feel aimlessly defeated. After all, it is difficult to know what to do when a loved one is suffering from addiction. You may be fearful, angry, worried, anxious, and more. There are very few things in life that make you feel more powerless than sitting back and watching your loved one spiral down a dangerous path.
Addiction is an insidious disease. Many people who suffer from it are unable to get sober on their own. Most people need professional help. Although you know that your loved one needs help, he or she may be reluctant to accept it. Consequently, you probably feel unsure about how you can convince your loved one to seek help for their addiction. While you can’t force someone to get sober, there are steps you can take to encourage your loved one to get addiction help.
Don’t Enable Your Loved One
When your loved one gets in trouble or is in pain, you may feel as though it is your responsibility to take care of them. However, caretaking is a form of codependency – a condition in an unhealthy relationship where one person enables another person’s addiction. If you are taking responsibility for your loved one’s struggles, you are allowing them to keep using drugs and alcohol without consequences. In order for a person to admit that they need help with an addiction, they must accept their own responsibilities and face their consequences head-on.
If your loved one needs money, it is not your responsibility to give it to them. If your loved one is unable to meet a certain obligation, it is not your responsibility to do their work for them. When you stop enabling your loved one, you begin forcing them to take responsibility for their own actions. As a result, when an addict doesn’t have an enabler, it makes it more difficult to continue using without consequences.
Set Healthy Boundaries
The best thing you can do for both yourself and your addicted loved one is to enforce healthy boundaries. Boundaries will allow you to have a more peaceful and balanced life. After all, addiction can provoke extreme chaos and resentment. Boundaries can fix that. Without healthy boundaries, you may lose your sense of self and begin compromising your morals.
If it is unacceptable for your loved one to come to your home while they are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, let them know that you will not tolerate this behavior. Make your intentions and expectations clear to both yourself and your loved one. Furthermore, you must enforce your boundaries. If you are unsure of what your boundaries should be, you can consult with a therapist or recovery coach. An addiction professional can help you set and keep your boundaries.
Consider an Intervention
Interventions can help motivate people to seek help. They do not force people to get help, but they help shed light on the damage that a person’s addiction has caused. There are many different types of interventions, but the most effective ones are hosted by an intervention specialist or a recovery coach. By entrusting the help of an addiction specialist, you are putting your loved one in good hands.
Interventions involve professional assistance, preparation, and vulnerability on the part of family members. Family members will express to their loved one why they are concerned and how they feel. In addition, an addiction specialist will help mitigate the conversation and keep the mood calm and supportive. The ultimate goal of an intervention is to get your loved one to see the true weight of their addiction and encourage them to seek professional addiction help.
Offer an Experiential Approach
When people think of addiction treatment, they often think of your traditional drug and alcohol rehab. Although these structured environments work for many people, they aren’t for everyone. If your loved one is reluctant to seek drug and alcohol rehab, offer an experiential approach. Experiential approaches involve a collaboration outside of the traditional office setting. In addition, it involves learning how to face daily challenges while staying sober outside of the therapeutic bubble.
Elite recovery coaches can help clients change their thinking and behaviors simultaneously. Recovery coaches offer a different approach to treating addiction. A recovery coach will be actively involved in your loved one’s life. For some, this means traveling careers, office settings, or even in the comfort of one’s own home. In addition, recovery coaches can be available immediately, so your loved one doesn’t have to wait for a therapy session. This provides a more flexible, personal option that anyone can benefit immensely from.
Contact a Certified Addiction and Recovery Coach Near You
If you are looking for expert-level clinical care in a comfortable setting, look no further. Dr. Stephen Henriques is a certified drug and alcohol counselor and one of the few doctorate level recovery coaches who holds a degree in psychology. 24/7 customized concierge recovery and life coaching is a great option for anyone who is ready to get their life back on track and reach their full potential.
The PARALLAX Solution provides an individualized approach to recovery. Dr. Henriques knows that recovery from unhealthy behaviors doesn’t fit into one specific mold – everyone is different! By using a recovery coach and sober companion, you can help your loved one achieve long-term recovery. If your loved one is reluctant to seek addiction help, reach out today to inquire about our intervention and recovery coaching solutions.