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How to Deal With Addiction 

Balance, tolerance and compassion are essential elements to creating household harmony. However, when addiction enters the picture, life becomes much more complex for everyone involved.

In this post, we’ll explain how to overcome some challenges that can occur when you share your life with an addicted loved one, including how to care for them – and yourself.

Understanding Addiction

To learn how to deal with a loved one’s addiction, it’s essential to educate yourself about what they are going through. Contrary to a pervasive misconception, people don’t become addicted because they are weak-willed or morally flawed. Instead, addiction is a chronic brain disease. 

Long-term drug and alcohol use alters the brain’s reward circuit, gradually taking over until these substances become a way of life. As a substance use disorder spirals out of control, it will become increasingly challenging for your loved one to stop drinking or using, even if they are fully aware of the consequences it’s having on their physical and emotional well-being.

Living With Your Loved One’s Addiction

You are not responsible for causing your loved one’s illness. A substance use disorder is a complex condition with many contributing factors, which is what makes it so challenging to treat. Start by considering what circumstances are within your control. 

• Prioritize your well-being by setting boundaries and defining the consequences of breaking them. 
• To protect your mental health, make time for healthy self-care activities like meditation, yoga and journaling. 
• If you feel alone, join an in-person or online support group of an organization like Al-Anon. 

Does Your Loved One Need an Intervention?

It can be frustrating and disappointing to see someone you care about trapped in the cycle of addiction – especially if you have made one or more unsuccessful attempts to convince them to quit. Still, you shouldn’t lose hope. Addiction is treatable, and it’s possible for your loved one to recover with your support. 

A professionally planned drug or alcohol intervention is one way to persuade an addicted loved one to get treatment. When you hire an interventionist to plan and lead the meeting, they will coach you and your family on how to manage and orchestrate the process, including ways to overcome any objections to seeking help.

Your professional interventionist will take time to understand the role each family member plays in the addiction and explain how everyone involved can commit to helping your loved one with their recovery plan. Ideally, by the end of the intervention, they will agree to enter an accredited substance use treatment program where they can begin working on their sobriety.

Learn More About Interventions

A professionally facilitated intervention can be the first step in healing damaged relationships and guide someone close to your heart to the realization that it is time to get help. 

Since 1984, Rich Whitman has been successfully organizing interventions that pave the way for people to seek lifesaving treatment. We’ve staged more than 1,000 substance use and mental health interventions around the U.S. and have a 98% success rate. Contact us today to learn more about our services.