It can be a hard pill to swallow when you suspect or know that a family member has an addiction. It is even harder if your family member cannot identify that they have a problem. Here are a few steps you can take to help you communicate and support your family member as they face their addiction.
Be Empathic
Sympathy is often seen as feeling sorry for someone, whereas empathy is the ability to feel with someone. You may not know what is like to have an addiction, but you may be able to empathize with other feelings and triggers that your family member may share with you such as no longer feeling in control.
Listen
You want to listen as much if not more than you speak. This process is about them. Now is not the time to lecture or talk about yourself.
Support the Entire Process
Recovery is a process and part of that process is relapse. Support the entire process, not just the moment your family member decides to seek help.
Educate yourself
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has many resources for family members supporting those with a substance abuse issue. Educate yourself and share those resources with your loved one. They may want to get help but not know where to start.
Set Boundaries
Supporting a loved one can be tiring and there may be moments where you are not emotionally available to do this. Stay self-aware and set boundaries with your family member to ensure you can take acre of you too.
Empower, Don’t Enable
In an effort care and be helpful, we sometimes enable a behavior unintentionally. Beware of this and empower your loved one to put in the work needed for treatment.
Sources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-talk-to-an-addict-22012
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-anatomy-addiction/201207/are-you-empowering-or-enabling
