Helping a loved one accomplish goals of theirs usually provides a great feeling of accomplishment. Teaching them new skills, helping them achieve a physical goal, or even encouraging them to get simple tasks done can help improve your bond with your loved one.
But what happens when the loved one isn’t necessarily looking for help? Or worse, what if they are actively looking to prevent you from assisting them in the first place. This is often the case when trying to help a loved one dealing with an addiction.
The Conversation
This is the first part of the road to help. That said, it can also be the most uncomfortable part to do. Addicts are addicts because the drugs or behavior have assumed control over them, and the initial conversation about regaining that control can be hard. They may fight the idea or disagree that they even have a problem to begin with.
Still, having a direct conversation with them about identifying the problem is critical. Everyone is different, and you should consider your loved one’s personality and choose your tone wisely. Tough love isn’t always the answer, building trust with them is the key.
Support System
Telling them to get help is only part of the journey. Lending an ear to listen to their problems and providing encouragement and support through their journey is important. Let them know you are proud of them for seeking help and be sure to motivate them as you see progress. Offering to take them to any meetings or appointments shows them how you have their back and can be the difference between your loved one honoring their commitment to getting clean or slipping back into a destructive path.
There are many ways you can go about helping your loved one, but the important thing is not to turn your help into a battle. Sometimes they might want to do it on their own, and that’s ok too. What matters is that they achieve their goal of getting clean.