When your loved one struggles with substance addiction, it can be easy to assume the worst and feel some resentment towards them if their substance-induced behavior begins to affect you. However, there are several things you should keep in mind in order to gain a better understanding of your loved one’s disease and the struggle they’re living with.
What to Consider When Your Loved One is Battling Substance Abuse
Educate Yourself
The best way to understand what your loved one is dealing with is by educating yourself on addiction. By learning the common causes of addiction, the physical changes it causes the brain and body, and the best ways to combat the disease, you can gain a better sense of empathy for your loved one and help them towards recovery.
Offer Assistance
It’s one thing to say that you want to get your loved one help for their substance abuse, but it’s entirely another to actually assist them in receiving help. Help your loved one research treatment centers and find a program that is best for them.
Be Patient
Whether your loved one is only beginning to approach the idea of recovery or is working to make amends after becoming sober, allow yourself to be patient with them and support them throughout their efforts. It takes time before a person is ready to enter treatment and make concrete changes in their life.
Avoid Enabling
While you’ll want to help them fight their addiction, be careful not to cross the line into enabling them. For example, you could help their disease by speaking to them about their addiction and helping them find a treatment program. However, you would be enabling them if you offer them money if they find themselves facing financial difficulties as a result of fueling their addiction.
Addiction Rehabilitation in Tennessee
At Chattanooga Recovery Center, our mission is to provide the compassionate care, encouragement, and self-sufficiency individuals seeking a life of recovery require. Our Tennessee rehabilitation center invites people from all walks of life who are struggling with addiction to join us on the path to sobriety.
Find your path to sobriety today. Call us at(423) 226-5331 or contact us online for more information.