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One of the hardest things that someone loving an addict can do is stand by while they refuse to get help. Their reluctance to seek treatment can stem from a wide range of reasons; where little of the rationale makes sense, it can be challenging to know what to do next. Instead of completely cutting them out of your life, you have some options to help them while they decide to seek help on their own.
Why They Might Be Reluctant
Whether it’s trying to quit drinking or committing to getting clean, finding the internal strength and desire to make a change is the most important part of the recovery process. If you try to force someone that doesn’t see a problem with their behavior or is simply going along with a program to appease their loved ones, they are often put into a position where failure is far likelier than success.
Most times, when an addict doesn’t want help, you can still position yourself to be ready to help them with their recovery whenever the opportunity arises. While you may not like everything you hear right away, it can still open up avenues for giving them the support they need in the future.
Offer Support
Simply because they aren’t interested in seeking help from a recognized drug treatment center doesn’t mean that you still can’t offer them support in their troubling times. You can sit down with them to discuss their experiences and let them know you are aware of the problem. Be mindful of your tone — avoid sounding condescending, judgmental, or antagonistic. How you talk to them can help put them in a better headspace to listen to your suggestions.
Place Set Boundaries and Consequences
In an overwhelming amount of cases, friends and family try to enforce strong consequences on the addict if they break their trust. However, these can be seen as idle threats that won’t receive the proper follow-through. Figuring out what kind of boundaries you want to put into place and the consequences for crossing them can help reinforce negative repercussions for specific actions. They can be as severe as you want them to; you must follow through.
Supporting, Not Enabling
For some family members, the line between supporting individuals and enabling their addictions can be incredibly thin. While your loved one may not be ready for treatment, you can still offer support without enabling their habit. In some cases, loved ones may provide financial support to help them make ends meet.
However, the temptation to use that financial support to fuel their addiction often proves too great, and they burn through the money. Knowing when supporting someone starts and enabling them begins is an important step for people trying to help an addict.
Consider Staging an Intervention
Sometimes, you need to make a stronger effort with a friend or family member suffering from addiction. Pulling them out from their long-term spiral may seem challenging, but there are ways to help. Sometimes, addicts focus too much on their personal satisfaction and quest for the next high without taking the consequences of their addiction on others.
An intervention may seem like an extreme step, but in certain cases, you need something like this to get them out of their current situation. Interventions can either be run by close loved ones or with the help of a professional.
Don’t Forget About Helping Yourself
One of the forgotten consequences of trying to help someone else’s drug addiction remains the effects it can have on your psyche. Seeing a loved one struggling with addiction but refusing to get help can have drastic negative effects on your mental health. Don’t be afraid to seek professional treatment for your mental health while trying to support a loved one and their struggle.
Receive the Help and Support You Need at Silver Pines Treatment Center
Just because you’re dealing with a loved one who does not want to seek professional treatment services doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a set plan in mind. Knowing where you can take your loved one when they’re ready to explore different treatment options is key, and our team is prepared to help whenever you need it.
If you or a loved one needs a proven and thoughtful addiction treatment center in Mahanoy City, PA, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 267.719.8689. Discover how our specialized treatment services can help today.
