Helping a loved one that has struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol

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Of course, getting the help we need when we’re feeling down about our lives or health isn’t how we imagine reaching out to someone we trust. It may make us feel afraid, ashamed and out of control. Whether we’re struggling with an addiction to either drugs or alcohol, it can take a toll on us. Chances are, we think we live our lives with our impulses in check most of the time. We tend to think we’ll always be in control of our urges. We might feel there’s nothing we can’t stop if we truly want to change. There’s no bad behavior we can’t stop.

Seeing someone we love struggle with addiction

When we see a loved one who is hurting, we want to do something to help them. Many of us believe that if we're going to stop a behavior that’s hurting us, we could do so at any moment. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Life is complex and full of twists and turns. Our mental and physical health is complicated as well. As human beings, we tend to develop behaviors to cope with complex challenges and unforeseen events. During difficult times in our lives, we may find ourselves using unhealthy coping strategies to ease our anxieties and calm our fears. Some of these activities are harmful and even painful to continue.

However, our behaviors have a way of catching up with us. Though they may have been relieving initially, we realize that an addiction to alcohol and drug abuse can become dangerous. If our behaviors aren’t healthy, and if they’re not nourishing our physical and mental health, it’s time to evaluate them. That’s why it’s essential to know the signs that someone we care for is addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s also vital that we understand why they may act or feel the way they do as they prepare for treatment. Recovery is possible, but one must have a support system that is kind and compassionate along the way.

The challenges that make addiction complicated

Suppose we’re consistently feeling unhealthy, disappointed or depressed about our health and behavior. In that case, we have to take a moment to stop and ask ourselves what it is we’re doing to pull ourselves out of this negative spiral. At some point we may feel a pull to turn ourselves in a more positive direction. We don’t have to be perfect, and we don’t have to make everything right in our lives at once. What we need to do is believe there’s another way to live a better life: A life where we’re authentic, healthy and honest about how we feel.

More and more people are speaking about their experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation and loneliness that the health crisis created didn’t help those who struggled with alcohol abuse. Some researchers have been interested in how the global health pandemic has been affecting alcoholic drinking behaviors. People in one study showed that one-third of the participants reported binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic. When it came to extreme binge drinking, seven percent of participants said partaking in this behavior.

Finding the help we truly need to take charge of our lives

Studies also show that alcohol abuse is the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States. This behavior is associated with higher amounts of excessive violence, crimes and sexually transmitted diseases. Research shows that when one is experiencing stress in one’s life, they’re more likely to participate in alcohol abuse. Understanding why people abuse alcohol and other drugs is vital to creating a place where a struggling loved one can speak about why they continue to go back to dangerous vices that can threaten or even destroy their lives.

Everyone deserves compassion, kindness and acceptance no matter where they are on their journey to recovery from addiction. That’s why knowing how we can help the ones we love is so important. When we know what to look for and what to do, we can offer help in a loving and non-judgmental way.

The signs that come with alcohol and drug abuse

No matter who we are, or where we come from, alcohol and drug abuse can exist and flourish among our closest friend or family circles. That’s why it’s essential to know the signs that come with this disease.

• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, drinking more alcohol than intended. Or, began drinking for more extended periods of time than otherwise intended?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, continue drinking or abusing more drugs, even though it caused trouble among other family members, or friends?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, discontinuing activities that were once enjoyable to make more time to drink alcohol or use drugs?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, unsatisfied with the amount of drugs or alcohol used in the past, not creating the desired effect they wanted? Then, ultimately, increased the dosage to obtain the desired effect?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, experiencing an intense craving to drink or use drugs?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, drinking alcohol or using more drugs despite the fact it was increasing levels of depression, anxiety or contributing to another health issue at hand?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, lying about how much you’re drinking alcohol or abusing drugs?
• Have you found yourself, or someone you love, removing yourself from commitments to be alone and partake in drinking or drug use?

The importance of getting help—wherever you are, and whoever you are

Getting the help you or your loved one needs is crucial to beating alcohol and drug abuse in the long run. It’s essential to have a supportive community that understands what it feels like to go through the trials of addiction. The tests and challenges that come with addiction are numerous, and not everyone understands the aching for these vices. A caring and compassionate group of individuals who genuinely acknowledge the hardship of drug and alcohol abuse is what a recovering individual relies upon when the going gets tough.

It doesn’t matter whether or not you, or your loved one, has reached out for help in the past. It doesn’t matter if this is the first time or the tenth time seeking assistance or recovery. Reaching sobriety and healing the body takes time, love and attention. Everyone deserves a healthy and happy life, no matter how long they’ve struggled with substance abuse. Each individual is worthy of empathy through the difficult moments on the path to recovery. We understand that this road can be tricky, but it isn’t impossible. We’ve watched plenty of people rebuild their lives and create their own road to happiness that didn’t involve hurting themselves or relying on substances to enhance their lives.

If you suffer from addiction, there is a path to full recovery. Our staff has the experience and compassion to help anyone who wishes to help and positively change their lives. We believe that everyone, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity, deserves to be welcomed and loved. That’s why we work to accept everyone at our facility. We all have the right to feel loved, joyful and free.

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