Watching a loved one battle an addiction is never easy. You might be watching your child, parent, or sibling constantly deal with the consequences of addiction. Ultimately, your loved one will have to make the active decision to attend treatment in order for the program to truly work. However, you can use some strategies to encourage and help this individual to make the right choice.
Strategies to Try
Simply figuring out where to begin when it comes to helping your loved one seek treatment can feel overwhelming. Knowing about some effective strategies can give you the motivation to take the next step. You can try some of the following techniques:
- having a conversation
- sharing experiences
- setting boundaries
- enlisting help
As you learn more about each of these possibilities, you can determine which method is the right fit for your loved one. You can use a combination of these strategies too.
Having a Conversation
Based on past experiences, you might believe that your loved one is closed off to the idea of treatment. However, some individuals are simply afraid to bring up the desire to attend a rehab program. People might feel as though they will be judged or that their relatives and friends will be unsupportive of the idea. Simply having an honest and caring conversation with your loved one might be enough to convince this person that treatment is the best option. Start an informed conversation. Be prepared to provide information about specific treatment centers.
Sharing Experiences
If you yourself have had a positive experience at a treatment center, you could start by sharing that story. Talking about your own past battle with addiction can be stressful and jarring, but doing so could also save your loved one’s life. You might not have shared your story before for certain reasons. For example, maybe you don’t want your children to know that you struggled with addiction before you gave birth to them. Think about how empowering it can be for your kids to know that they are not alone though. Another option is to share information about how your loved one’s addiction has hurt you. People sometimes do not realize the pain that they inflict on others because of their addictions. Hearing about the effects of addiction can be painful, but these stories can also motivate your loved ones to seek treatment.
Setting Boundaries
You may also have to set painful boundaries with your loved ones. Do not allow yourself to continue being hurt by the actions of a person who refuses to accept treatment. In some cases, you may have to let your loved ones know that you will need to cut off all ties with them if they are unwilling to enroll in a treatment program. Protecting your own physical and mental well-being is important too.
Enlisting Help
You do not have to be the sole person who talks to your loved one about the need for addiction treatment. While getting too many people involved can lead to your loved one feeling ashamed about their addiction and hostile about the idea of getting treatment, putting together a small group can be empowering. Hearing from a carefully selected group of trusted individuals can motivate a person to seek treatment. Also, your loved one can become aware of how many people are in their community of support. You can also seek assistance from addiction specialists. For example, if you have been conducting research on a specific treatment center, find out what level of support the representatives can offer to you now. A counselor might be able to help in putting together an intervention for your loved one, or a staff member may be able to provide further tips for encouraging treatment in your specific situation.
Regardless of the circumstances, you don’t have to navigate the situation alone. You can even begin building a larger community of support for your loved one by speaking with a representative at the treatment center. In other words, this call can help to establish a connection with professionals in the field of addiction treatment. Call 833.970.2054 to open the door to these critical conversations.
