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How To Help A Loved One With A Drinking Or Drug Problem By: Jill P Cohen
It is a fine balance in trying to reach out to a family member with a drug addiction. For one thing, the addict will often deny the problem and say you are exaggerating their drug or alcohol use. Also, they know you probably have a soft spot and will help out with some money issues, make excuses for them with other family members and other forms of enabling.
On the one hand you want to be supportive. On the other hand, you don't want to enable someone. As a therapist I've talked to many people who use so much of their own money, time and energy for someone , much more than the addict themselves is doing to change themselves. There is something odd about this. There has to be some effort on the part of the person with the drug or alcohol issue.
Because of the economy, drinking and drugs can also tie in with unemployment. Nonetheless, if you live with someone they need to show some effort. It could be doing exercise, volunteer work, taking a class or doing something for someone else. If someone is just staying inside all the time, watching tv while high or drinking too much.
An intervention is one way that a person may be able to see the gravity of their situation. This can be done with a facilitator or without one, but it needs to be organized. Each person attending should write a letter that they read aloud. Also, rehab facilities should be figured out ahead of time so that the person can be encouraged and guided to go to one.
Other ways to encourage someone to make important changes is to attend outpatient counseling. This is a good way to start to look at oneself and what the anxiety is that leads to drinking or drug use. As a family member, going to a 12 steps program for oneself to gain insight and ways to not enable the one you love. You'll learn ways to not be projecting issues on the person with the drinking or drug abuse issues. Often counseling is useful for both the addict as well as the family member to cope most effectively with the underlying issues.
Learn more about How to Stop Addictions and find out about Alcoholic Intervention to help a loved one.
On the one hand you want to be supportive. On the other hand, you don't want to enable someone. As a therapist I've talked to many people who use so much of their own money, time and energy for someone , much more than the addict themselves is doing to change themselves. There is something odd about this. There has to be some effort on the part of the person with the drug or alcohol issue.
Because of the economy, drinking and drugs can also tie in with unemployment. Nonetheless, if you live with someone they need to show some effort. It could be doing exercise, volunteer work, taking a class or doing something for someone else. If someone is just staying inside all the time, watching tv while high or drinking too much.
An intervention is one way that a person may be able to see the gravity of their situation. This can be done with a facilitator or without one, but it needs to be organized. Each person attending should write a letter that they read aloud. Also, rehab facilities should be figured out ahead of time so that the person can be encouraged and guided to go to one.
Other ways to encourage someone to make important changes is to attend outpatient counseling. This is a good way to start to look at oneself and what the anxiety is that leads to drinking or drug use. As a family member, going to a 12 steps program for oneself to gain insight and ways to not enable the one you love. You'll learn ways to not be projecting issues on the person with the drinking or drug abuse issues. Often counseling is useful for both the addict as well as the family member to cope most effectively with the underlying issues.
Learn more about How to Stop Addictions and find out about Alcoholic Intervention to help a loved one.
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