Addiction affects a person’s life physically, emotionally, and mentally, and heavily impacts relationships with family and loved ones. Watching a loved one struggle with addiction can make you feel helpless, hopeless, and broken. Family and friends experience a variety of emotions, such as anger, sadness, and fear. The strong feelings of despair, anxiety and fear may unintentionally contribute to your loved one’s continued substance abuse.
When you see a loved one suffer on a daily basis, a common reaction is to help as much as possible. Understand the difference between supporting and enabling your loved one’s addictive behavior.
Ways to avoid enabling your loved one:
- Learn about drug and alcohol addiction. Talk to other people or families who have loved ones with drug or alcohol addictions, and listen to their experiences. Go to group meetings at AA or NAR ANON and share your concerns.
- Understand you cannot control addiction. A person with a drug or alcohol addiction must want to change his or her lifestyle to live substance free. He or she needs to detox first and discuss treatment options with a professional.
- Do not blame yourself. A person’s mental health issues can contribute to his or her using drugs. Over time, excessive drug or alcohol use causes a physical addiction, and the brain needs more of the substance to function.
- Set boundaries. Set firm boundaries and do not cave in when your loved one violates them. Boundaries are limits and rules that you set to protect yourself and stay in control of what is and is not acceptable.
- Encourage your loved one to get help. Support and encouragement can influence your loved one to seek treatment for their addiction. This can be a way to motivate your loved one, increase their self-confidence, and improve self-esteem.
There are ways to help your loved one without enabling. Positive reinforcement can make a huge difference in your loved one’s recovery.
If your loved one is struggling with addiction, get help today. Cypress Lakes Lodge specializes in holistic treatment for addiction and addictive behaviors with a focus on healing the mind, body, and spirit. The staff at Cypress Lakes Lodge is compassionate and committed to the overall health and well-being of every client.
Cypress Lakes Lodge specializes in addiction treatment and is located in a serene, remote, lush-green, oxygen enriched environment. The program encompasses holistic addiction therapy and offers yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and soul. The focus is on physical, mental, and emotional well-being by generating the balance of life-enriching treatment, wellness, and healthy, sober, sustainable relationships. Call us to get started: 409-331-2204