If your loved one is struggling with addiction, recovery can seem impossible. It can be hard to understand why he or she started abusing drugs or alcohol, why they continue to do use, and why they cannot stop. Addiction affects family, friends, and loved ones as it makes them feel helpless, hopeless, and overwhelmed.
However, there is hope in recovery. Even when your loved one seems to be at the point of no return, recovery is possible with the right treatment and happens every day to many people. A person living with addiction cannot be forced to stop his or her drug or alcohol use. He or she might think there they do not have a problem and everything is under control.
A person cannot be forced into treatment, but there are some things you can do to encourage them. Plan an intervention that includes other loved ones and a professional interventionist to monitor the meeting. The addicted loved one might not want to be there and become hostile. On the other hand, there is a chance they want help and will commit to treatment. Even if it does not happen right away, recovery is possible and the intervention can influence sobriety.
If the person rejects a treatment opportunity, do not give up. Positive gestures and verbal reinforcements are very important. There is a fine line between being supportive and being an enabler. Learn the difference and avoid enabling your loved one. Learn more about addiction and offer to attend group or family therapy with your loved one. It not only shows your being supportive, but also shows how much you care.
There is hope for recovery, and loved ones play an important role by being supportive and encouraging. Keep communication open and celebrate the small steps taken for sobriety, because to your loved one with the addiction, one day can feel like years. Every single day is a struggle, but recovery is one day at a time.
“Recovery is an ongoing process, for both the addict and his or her family. In recovery, there is hope. And hope is a wonderful thing.” ~ Dean Dauphinais
If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, get help today. Nexus Recovery Services specializes in addiction treatment and encompasses holistic therapy for the mind, body, and soul with a focus on staying active and connected to nature. Our mission is to provide tools and support for every client’s seamless transition into a meaningful and fulfilling life of sobriety. We offer a free and confidential consultation. Call us to get started: 310-881-9151