When someone you love suffers through an addiction, you suffer as well. Watching those closest to you struggle to find their balance is never easy. It can be difficult to support a loved one going through addiction, but addiction treatment in San Diego is there to help both of you. Your loved one can get the support and treatment they need to recover, and you can get the support and peace of mind you need while helping them. If your loved one is suffering from an addiction, there are ways you can help support them.
Protect Yourself
No matter what, you need to protect yourself whenever you are supporting a loved one. It’s not always easy to say no or walk away from someone who is struggling, but sometimes it’s the only option. Supporting someone struggling with an addiction can take a heavy toll on your own emotional and physical health. And if you are worn and weary, you won’t be able to support your loved one as much as you want. Only provide as much support as you are capable of without hurting yourself.
Don’t Be Judgmental
You never know what someone else is going through, and you can never fully understand their struggles. When someone suffers an addiction, there are biological and chemical instances at play that can make self recovery almost impossible. It’s not that your loved one wants to hurt you or themselves; they might just be unable to stop on their own.
There’s no room for judgment during the recovery process. Sometimes your loved one may be tempted to start using again. When this happens, your best course of action is not to judge them or lecture them on why they shouldn’t. Instead, simply be there for them. Listening to their struggles and providing activities that help get their mind off it goes a long way in helping someone recover from an addiction.
Be Knowledgeable
Knowledge truly is power. Addiction is a type of disease, and the more you know about it, the better equipped you are to combat it. Any addiction treatment center will have resources you can utilize to help expand your understanding of addiction. Whether you’re looking online or in person, you can find flyers, brochures, and booklets that explain the reasons behind addiction.
Why someone forms an addiction depends on a variety of factors. Understanding these can help you support your loved one through recovery. For example, a person’s environment can play a major part in their addiction. Being around the source of one’s addiction makes it harder to avoid it. The more steps one has to take to get their drug or alcohol of choice, the less likely they are to continue through with it. You can support your loved one by helping them avoid environments and situations where they may be tempted to continue use.
Be Financially Aware
People who are struggling with addiction need kindness in their life to support them. However, kindness does not mean always giving in to them. When someone has an addiction, they can be extremely crafty in finding ways to fuel it. This often means finding ways to get their loved ones to financially support them.
Saying no to someone’s needs isn’t easy, especially if they are someone you care about. But in saying yes, you allow them to continue with their addiction. Funding for addiction takes a lot of money, and your loved one may be telling the truth when they say they can’t pay their rent or afford groceries. Even if you pay the landlord directly or bring food to them, you’re still allowing them to spend their money on their addiction. By refusing to support your loved one financially, you actually support them by pushing them closer to admitting their problem and seeking treatment.
Be Available
Everyone has a busy life, but being available to your loved one is a key factor in supporting them. Being available can mean a variety of things. For some examples, you can be available by:
- Offering to drive them to or from their center for addiction treatment in San Diego
- Having your phone on and near you so you can answer if they need someone to talk to
- Letting them stay with you to help eliminate environmental temptations
- Helping them find and sign up for recovery treatment
It’s not always possible to be physically there, especially if you live far away. But with modern communication, you can be emotionally available to help talk them through any rough patches they may have.
Addiction Treatment in San Diego
When someone you love is struggling with an addiction, you want to do everything in your power to help them. However, supporting a loved one can be draining for you as well. Helping your loved one find addiction treatment in San Diego is a great way to provide support for them and for yourself.
At The Bridges of San Diego, we’re dedicated to providing caring and nurturing treatment programs for addictions of all kinds. We understand how difficult it is to see someone struggle with addiction. Our knowledgeable staff is available to help both you and your loved one recover and understand the heart of their addiction. With a focus on education and counseling, our treatment programs are tailored to fit each patient’s specific needs. For more information about how you can support your loved one and get them addiction treatment in San Diego, give us a call at 619-737-1218.