Start a conversation when your friend is sober. The best way to talk to others in general is to be direct and honest. The same thing happens when you talk to someone who has an addiction. Be clear about what you want to communicate to them and don't hesitate to express your own feelings about the situation in a calm manner.
In fact, saying how you feel is usually a good starting point. Tell your loved one how much it hurts and worries about seeing him addicted to drugs and how much you fear for his or her safety. First, let's talk about the definition of addiction. Addiction is a disease caused by a complex set of genetic, family and psychological factors.
It's not a character flaw or a problem of willpower. An addict cannot “stop abusing substances simply with their willpower” without doing some kind of work to recover from the effects of addiction. If they can stop and stop their substance, they are not addicted, they are consumers. When users cross the line into addiction, they can't just stop on their own.
Many people imagine that “white knuckles” make their way through abstinence. That's no longer the case in most recovery centers. Newer medications can help you overcome the worst situations of withdrawal, and many centers constantly monitor you to ensure that your health is not compromised. The goal is for you to recover from your illness, and rehabilitation centers do everything they can to help.
While your help may be appreciated, your friend may need to focus on attending support group meetings, establishing new healthy routines, and making friends with other alcoholics or addicts who are recovering. Family Drug Help provides support and information to the family and friends of a person with an addiction. For the vast majority of people who are addicted to alcohol, the first big decision they must make is to be willing to seek treatment for their addiction. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Addiction Professionals Association and its allies is a membership organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, substance abuse and other addictions in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.
The proof that addiction is actually a physical and psychological problem comes to us by comparing brain scans of addicted and non-addicted people. It's helpful to understand what addiction is and isn't and what it actually means to recover. For example, if the person had excessive alcohol consumption and feels sorry for their behavior the next day, this is a good time to talk about their behavior in the context of addiction and seek help. After an intervention meeting, if the addict agrees to undergo treatment, it is essential that the group be willing and able to help the person leave immediately.
Many others have found that hearing recovery stories from sober addicts helps them see their own story like nothing else. The person leading the intervention creates a group of family, friends and others close to the addict and teaches them how to confront the loved one about their addiction. A professional evaluation by a counselor or therapist can help you determine if you're dealing with alcohol addiction or what else might be happening with all this stress you're experiencing. At 12 Keys, people who want to recover from drug or alcohol addiction can find a new way to live and be happy despite their addiction.