10 Tips for Families to Cope with Addicts
Is your loved one using substances? Have they relapsed after promising that they wouldn't do it again? Are you unsure if you can trust them as their stories never seem to add up? Almost 21 million Americans have at least 1 addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment. Addiction doesn't just affect the addict, it can be devastating for the entire family. The financial, emotional, and physical burden of dealing with someone that has an addiction could overwhelm anyone. If your loved one is in active addiction or early recovery, it's essential to take care of yourself. Here are ten tips to help family members cope.
Educate Yourself
Knowledge is power, and the more you know about addiction, the better prepared you are to cope. An unfortunate consequence for someone who uses substances is a flexible relationship with the truth, so doing your homework will help you spot if they are under the influence, using in secret, or not complying with the conditions of their sobriety.
Reach Out
The wonderful news is that you aren't alone. Many thousands of people are experiencing the same frustrations, setbacks, and hopes you are. Trying out support groups specifically designed for those who care for someone with an addiction like Al-Anon can provide a source of reassurance, strength, and faith.
Become an Ally
Harmful misinformation about addiction and addiction treatment prevents many people from getting the help they need. Advocating for addicts and treatment programs helps bust the damaging myths and encourage people with alcohol and substance abuse problems.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best anti-stress medications on planet earth. Committing to exercise several times a week reinforces your self-respect, helps you maintain a positive outlook, and enables you to cope when things get tough.
Engage in Family Activities
Being surrounded by constant stress and conflict is not healthy for anyone. To help reduce the potential for friction, it's important to reserve time to engage in fun activities as a family. Taking the time to listen to each other while cooking, painting, or doing sports can promote feelings of connection and bonding.
Get Enough Sleep
A disturbed sleep schedule is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Countless studies have shown that irregular or broken sleep heightens our physical and cognitive vulnerabilities, leaving us much more likely to feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed. Being disciplined about maintaining good sleep hygiene will pay dividends.
Go to Therapy
There is no shame in asking for help, and if you are the primary caregiver with a partner in active addiction, then taking care of your mental health is the most important thing you can do for your family and yourself. A good therapist will make you feel heard, understood, and valued while offering practical advice about how to cope.
Do What Makes YOU Happy
You deserve to connect with the things that make you happy. Moments of joy and pleasure help rejuvenate us and restore our emotional energy. Now is the time to nourish your passions or even discover new ones.
Set & Enforce Boundaries
Addiction is a disease, but that doesn't mean you should allow an anything-goes policy, especially if you have children. Your partner or loved one must agree to a set of rules to keep them and your family safe, and if they are broken, you must enforce the consequences. Enabling them will only perpetuate the problem and may prevent the addict from understanding how unacceptable their behavior is.
Expect Setbacks
They say that in life, low expectations are the key to happiness. If your loved one is suffering from addiction, then having no expectations isn't a good idea, but setting the bar too high isn't either. Recovery is a non-linear journey, and there will be moments when things won't go smoothly. The most important thing is to pick yourself up and dust yourself off every time it does.
Those were our top 10 tips to cope when your loved one is battling addiction. If you liked what you read, check out our blog for more information, or if you suspect your loved one is suffering from addiction, arrange a confidential, commitment-free conversation with one of our teams of experts today.
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