Overcoming any type of addiction can be incredibly difficult to overcome. If someone you love suffers from an addiction, their addiction permeates into your life.  Of course watching them suffer is heartbreaking, and you constantly search for avenues to assist them.

The harsh reality is that the addict themselves are really the only ones who can overcome their addiction.  Here is a list of what you can do to help them with their battle:

1. Help Them When Making Choices.

Sometimes it’s not so easy to make a good choice or decision yourself and often it helps if someone else can give you a fresh or new perspective on things helping you to see things more clearer and hence make a better choice for yourself. Perhaps suggest alternatives to their addictive behaviours and ensure that at no time do you make them feel stupid or judge them for their choices.

2. Offer Them Your Love and Support.

Often your loved one suffering an addiction has very vulnerable moments and they need to know they can rely upon your unwavering love and support. The support of a loved one can make or break it when it comes to a person trying to overcome or break their addiction.

3. Help Them When They Are Craving.

When first trying to withdraw from their addiction the person you love will crave their drug of choice badly.  Be there to help and support them through this so they dont give in to their addiction. Suggest activites or alternative choices they can engage in rather than return to the addiction.

4. Seek Medical Help.

Understand that overcoming an addiction is a trememdous hurdle, and that you are not equipped to help your loved one alone.  If you can engage the assistance of a medical professional early on in the withdrawal phase then this is advisable.  Keep the phone numbers of the medical advisors handy so that you can call
upon assistance as and when its needed.

5. Organize an Intervention.

A great way of showing your loved one that family and friends really care, organising an intervention, although terribly confronting does help the addict to face their addiction and understand its affect upon their loved ones. Facing it in such a confronting manner by their loved ones, often helps the addict to come
to terms with their denial about their addiction.

6. Attend a Support Group Meeting.

There are meetings everywhere all the time that are designed to support the addict and those around the addict who are affected by their addiction. As a support person, attending these meetings is of enormous benefit as you find and learn ways in wich to support they addict and understand how the addict
can be enabled, and by whom.  You also have the opportunity to meet other support people and discuss and learn how they cope.

7. Understand the Process of Withdrawal.

Educate yourself on the addict’s drug of choice, and in particul the process of withdrawing from this particular drug.  Educate yourself on the physical aspects of withdrawal such as vomiting and headaches and more.

8. Avoid Boredom and Stress.

Once your loved one has endured the withdrawal stage their physical symptoms have settled down try to slowly introduce structure into their day.  Remember an addict simply has no daily structure and will  have to slowly be introduced to this again to avoid boredom which can lead to temptation.  Remember too that a recovering addict will have tremendous trouble sleeping, as their addiction has greatly affecting their sleeping routine.

Lastly ensure that you take time for youself to relax. Caring for a recovering addict is extremely challenging and without adequate rest and relaxation, you will not be able to assist them through the trying times ahead.

Remember too, that a person wanting to overcome their addiction, as a much HIGHER success rate, with the unwavering support of a loved one.

Suggested Reading:

This workbook is based on proven success by many people. If you have tried traditional treatment and still don’t understand why you can’t stop alcohol or drugs, or if you are attempting to quit for the first time, this workbook can be of assistance to you.

Put an End to your Gambling Addiction Forever.

Grow out of your gambling habit and never relapse.

Written by an EX-alcoholic and EX-drug user (no longer a “recovering” one for 24 years now after 18 years of use)

By MaryAnn Roche

Tags: addiction, Love