After the initial withdrawal phase, continued support and treatment are essential for long-term recovery. Encourage participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery. These groups provide a community Substance abuse of individuals who understand the journey and can offer guidance and encouragement.
RACGP – Working with men who use intimate partner abuse and violence
Try to understand how substance misuse became a routine part of their life and ask how you can best support them. It’s natural to get frustrated with your loved one when you see them doing something that’s harmful to their health. For your own well-being, you may occasionally need to limit your contact if that person is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ actively using substances or alcohol. So how can you help someone who’s recovering from substance abuse disorder? Here are seven tips to keep in mind as you support someone in their recovery journey.
- Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide a community of people who understand the struggles of alcohol addiction.
- Here are some tips on how to help a friend struggling with drug addiction.
- Encourage the person detoxing to seek professional mental health support.
- When someone gets too drunk or hungover to fulfill their basic responsibilities in life, they often rely on those around them to get the job done.
How to Help Someone With Alcohol Addiction
Try not to allow your loved one’s behavior to dictate your own health and happiness. Schedule time into your day for relaxing, maintaining your own health, and doing the things you enjoy. Your loved one’s recovery can be a long process, so you need to maintain a balance in your life. Residential treatment or “rehab” facilities provide intensive treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction.
Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Focus on supporting your loved one’s healthy, future goals, such as continuing education or finding a job. Your loved one will feel more prepared to begin the recovery process when they have a support system rooting for their success. You can recommend different treatment programs and help them explore their options, but only your addicted loved one can make the decision to go to rehab. By posing the above question to them, you are acknowledging that they are capable of reclaiming their life, but you will still be there for them in their time of need. By asking your loved one for their feedback, you avoid passing judgment and instead show them that you respect their choices.
But friends and family may feel unsure about how best to provide the support needed. The groups for family and friends listed in the “Resources” section may be a good starting point. Just as some people with diabetes or asthma may have flare-ups of their disease, a return to drinking can be seen as a temporary setback to full recovery and not as a failure.
- Research viable treatment options online before speaking with your loved one, make calls to treatment centers that appear appropriate for your loved one, and ask them any questions you may have.
- This may mean giving up certain friends and social connections.
- Your provider may also be able to suggest an online self-guided program.
- The deadline to have twice the impact to advance healthcare research is May 15.
Is there a good way to convey addiction concerns to a family member or friend?
It’s a situation where you want to be supportive but don’t want to overstep and risk making things worse. This page has resources and information for people who need help with substance use, including overdose prevention resources and quit smoking services. It does not include direct links to private clinics or for-profit organizations. Local authorities are responsible for alcohol treatment services. Intensive residential rehabilitation may require an additional assessment process to determine if there is funding for this.
Alcoholics anonymous and other support groups
The person may be in denial, and they may even react angrily to your attempts. Give them time and space to make an honest decision, and listen to what they have to say. Watching a family member, friend, or coworker help with alcohol with an alcohol use disorder can be difficult. You might wonder what you can do to change the situation, and whether or not the person even wants your help. The best treatment option for your loved one depends largely on the depth of their drinking problem, the stability of their living situation, and any other health issues they may be facing. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in your struggle.