I know and I understand that it is insanely difficult to see a loved one suffering from some sort of drug or alcohol addiction. An addictive person’s life is so distorted and a big mess that getting them out of such a devastating situation is not an easy task. If you really want to see your beloved leading not a complete but immensely improved lifestyle then you will have to hold tight and do not give up on them. It will be a lot of hard work, patience, and determination but it is going to be worth working for.
Do you think you can help an addict all by yourself?
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The answer is a big ‘NO’. An addict must acquire a professionals’ help not only for a short period instead it is going to be a lifelong commitment toward wellness and self-being. Rehabilitation and addiction treatment center work best when the patient gets out of the denial phase and wants to get treated to lead a normal life. Accepting oneself as an addict is not easy since the toxicants take over your body and disable you to think and process for your well being. The urge of consuming the toxicants is much stronger than getting rid of it. To overcome the condition you must take help from a professional for a complete guidance and treatment program.
Difference between helping and enabling a loved one
When you see a dear person going through so much pain and anxiety you want to help them recover in every possible way and in this process we mistakenly enable them to get back to their bad habit. Hence, we need to make sure that our help must not enable them in any way to return.
Actions that can enable them to relapse….
There is a fine line between helping and enabling an addict. It is essential to understand and differentiate both. The ways we unknowingly enabling a loved one addictive habits are,
- Not setting boundaries for them and punishing them for their unacceptable behavior
- Effortless provision of cash.
- Supporting and lying for them in case of relapse
- Paying for their expenses
- Availability of cars and other resources.
Remember fighting addiction is a serious war so the sober one must play calmly and sensibly. Dealing with addicts with utmost care, vigilance, strictness, straightforwardness, and love will be fruitful. Do not give up on them and look down at them because this will trigger the abuse of drugs or alcohol and will instigate the feeling of giving up on themselves.
What is the bottom line?
In the process of helping a loved one people get involved in a codependent relationship where the supporting partner takes all the responsibilities and troubles on the addicts’ behalf. Therefore, make sure you are not fostering the addict way too much, instead help him or her to be strong to lead a normal life and assist when the addict must acquire a professional’s help. Stand by their side but do not spoon-feed and babysit them. Let them grow stronger and smarter in the process of healing.
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