Dealing with an addiction is tough. Yet, telling a family member about your struggle can be an even greater challenge. This guide will show you how to get it done.
Some may be dealing with addiction and it’s noticeable. At that point, family and friends are aware of this and can stage an intervention. Others may deal with an addiction and will do their best to hide it.
They do this knowing that they are dealing with the shame of addiction. However, telling someone you know may be easier than you think. You may have a family member that is supportive of you and will suggest that you get the help you need.
Let’s talk more about what you need to do in order to tell a family member you are struggling with addiction.
Consider your treatment options first
Before you sit down with a member of your family, you’ll want to consider your treatment options. Ocean Recovery will have information on the steps you can take to beat your addiction. You can get it here right now.
The treatment you get will depend on several factors including the type of substance you are dealing with, any other disorders that you may be dealing with including mental illness, and more.
Find someone you can confide in
There are some members of your family that you can trust. There may be others that you may not want to share your struggle with. So it may be a good idea to find someone who is in your immediate family.
This can be a parent, a spouse, a sibling, or even your child (if you’re a parent yourself). When you find that person, you want to find a time to sit down with them and discuss what is going on.
Be honest with them (and yourself)
They say honesty is the best policy. So it’s important to be honest with this family member about your addiction. Tell them as much as you can about your struggle.
At the same time, you want to be honest about your desire to get the help you need. Also, explain to them why you need it. It’s always a good idea to emphasize that getting the help you need for addiction will save your life.
You want to follow through with your intent to get the help you deserve. For this reason, following this next step will be key.
Ask for their support
Your family members will be supportive of you. To confirm that, it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Let them know what you need from them as you are dealing with treatment for your addiction. These are the people who will trust you and root for you along the way.
Having a support group rally together before you go to rehab will give you more confidence. You will be able to have the willpower to power through your addiction treatment, no matter how long it takes. When you are dealing with the not so good days, you’ll be able to access the support system you have behind you.
Don’t be ashamed of yourself
It’s common for someone to feel ashamed for being addicted to drugs. However, you shouldn’t feel that way if you are talking to a member of your family. You should be proud of yourself for making a large step forward.
You are going to get the help you need and you know that it can save your life. You know that you have plans to live a more fulfilling life once you beat addiction. So make sure that you take the steps necessary to get the treatment you need.
You’ll be relieved knowing that you can tell a family member that you are struggling. With that said, let’s move on to the following step.
Tell other family members when you are ready
You may be in the position to tell one family member from the start. This can be a step in the right direction. You may want to ask that designated family member to keep it a secret until you are ready to disclose your addiction struggle with other members of your family.
When the time comes, let that family member know ahead of time. That way, when you need someone to back you up, they’ll be there. On top of that, they can explain to the other family members what’s going on and ask them for their support.
If one person on your support team will encourage you, they will help you find others that will feel the same way about you. That support group will grow and grow over time.
Keep in touch with them during the treatment process
After you’ve started your treatment, it’s important to keep in touch with them. Let them know about your good days, bad days, or anything that may be worth talking about. You stated that you are getting the help you need.
It’s important to make sure you let them know what’s going on. Give them a glimpse of what your treatment is like (if you are allowed to disclose such information). It will show them that you are honest with your intentions and following through with your intent to get help.
It will also allow them to reinforce their appreciation and support for you. They want to know how you’re doing. They want you to be successful in your treatment plan.
Final Thoughts
Telling a family member about an addiction is not as challenging as you think. If you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll feel like it’s something you have to do in order to move forward with treatment. Treat it like it’s the beginning of a beautiful journey.
This journey will be on a path that is rocky, but leads you to a certain destination. That destination is life after treatment. A life where you won’t need substances to get through the day or cope with a mental disorder you may have.
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