Few experiences feel more helpless than watching someone you love destroy themselves with drug or alcohol addiction. Living with that person during active substance abuse only compounds the stress. Regardless of whether the loved one is a partner, parent, or child, it can be agonizing. The situation must be handled with care.
What to do if you’re living with an addict?
If you’re living with someone who is being ravaged by addiction, the first step is to contact an addiction treatment professional for guidance on how to proceed. The conversations are confidential and can be eye-opening. Dealing with the reality of the situation is difficult and confusing for everyone involved – the addict and the family.
Oftentimes, family members are as likely to be in denial about the substance abuse as the addict. The key is to address the situation directly openly and honestly.
An active user’s behavior is unpredictable. Most people who suffer from drug addiction or alcoholism simultaneously suffer from co-occurring mental health disorders. These are mental health issues that are often at the root of addiction. These mental health issues can include trauma, PTSD, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and more.
Consulting a qualified mental health professional will better prepare you to interact with your loved one – allowing you to better anticipate his or her responses.
Do I need an interventionist?
In many cases, hiring a professional interventionist is the best way to proceed. The goal of an intervention is to present the substance abuser with a structured opportunity to accept help, as well as helping them to acknowledge that they need to make changes in their behavioral. An experienced interventionist will be equipped to keep everything focused and on track. They are well-versed in dealing with inevitable obstacles and resistance the addicted individual will pose. Interventionists are well aware of how denial feeds an addiction.
Another reason to hire an interventionist is they can guide the next steps in the process. If the addicted individual agrees to get help, the intervention specialist will present a trusted network of addiction treatment centers. They will know which addiction treatment method best suits your loved one’s recovery needs.
In the event that the intervention is unsuccessful, they can advise you how to proceed. It’s not uncommon for the addicted individual to refuse help at the time of the intervention, only to ask for help after the fact once the idea of escaping the horrors of addiction has been planted.
The takeaway
Living with an active user can leave you feeling scared, helpless, frustrated, and alone. Working with the support of trained mental health professionals can give you the needed strength and support to do what’s best for your loved one.
Every person seeking recovery must do so on their own terms. You can offer love and support. Oftentimes it is the love of a partner, parent, or child that urges the addict to take the first steps towards recovery.
MD Home Detox
In the event that you or a loved is not in denial about a substance abuse problem, and you recognize the importance of seeking immediate help from drug addiction or alcoholism, MD Home Detox is here to help. Our comprehensive addiction treatment services are designed to treat each unique individual.
We offer addiction treatment that allows you to detox in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Contact our specialists today to learn about our Home Detox Treatment and other services. We want to help you overcome addiction. By any means necessary.