How Can I Help a Loved One Seek Treatment?

Watching a friend, family member, or loved one struggle with addiction is hard to see. All you want to do is help. However, you must realize that you can not force your loved ones to seek treatment. That person must want it for themselves. Nevertheless, there are ways you can help a loved one become ready to seek treatment. That includes hosting interventions, reaching out to professionals, using resources, and other methods.

Sometimes, helping a loved one seek treatment comes second to simply being there for them. You cannot force a person to enter treatment. However, when they do start treatment, they will need all the support they can get.

Before helping them seek treatment, there are other necessary things you can do, like being there to talk and listen, encouraging them in their journey, and assisting them as they achieve their recovery goals. 

How to Know if Your Loved One Needs to Seek Treatment

Before you can begin helping a loved one enter treatment, you must determine if they have an addiction. This is sometimes easier said than done. Individuals who are consciously aware of their addiction may be exceptional at hiding it, denying it, or rationalizing it.

On the other hand, many do not recognize the signs of addiction within themselves or have trouble accepting their circumstances. It is also typical for people to deny their struggles and believe they can control their engagement with addictive habits or substances. 

You can know if your loved one requires addiction treatment by watching out for the signs and symptoms of addiction, such as: 

  • Changes in sleeping habits 
  • Extreme irritability or personality changes 
  • Signs of physical health issues
  • Changes in or neglect of physical appearance 
  • Erratic or increased engagement in risky behaviors
  • Symptoms of co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression 
  • Sudden legal or financial problems 
  • Change in friends or disinterest in activities and hobbies that were once enjoyable 
  • Unusual eating habits and extreme weight loss or gain 
  • The presence of withdrawal symptoms 

These are only a handful of signs that may indicate the presence of addiction. However, recognizing the signs is only the first step. What should you do next? 

Talking to a Loved One and Hosting an Intervention

Upon realizing that your loved one may be struggling with addiction, you can attempt to discuss it with them. Prepare for some uncomfortable discussions and complex emotions. Your loved one's initial response may be denial or anger. This may prompt you to host an intervention.  

Interventions are meticulously planned events where friends and family of someone struggling with addiction come together and discuss the harmful outcomes of addiction with their loved one. It is a time for friends and family to express their concerns, share how they have been impacted by the addiction, and encourage their loved one to get help. 

Hosting a successful intervention follows these steps: 

  • Forming an intervention team 
  • Planning a day and time to host the intervention 
  • Educating yourselves on addiction, treatment, and potential facilities
  • Rehearsing 
  • Acknowledging that your loved one may react negatively and refuse help 
  • Following up with consequences and boundaries
  • Continuing to support your loved one if they seek treatment

When implemented effectively, an intervention can help your loved one accept their situation and seek the required help. However, not everyone is receptive to interventions, and there are many potential challenges you may face. 

Challenges You May Face When Helping a Loved One Seek Treatment

We sometimes forget the vast impact addiction has. As someone helping a loved one on their journey, you must consider the toll it will take on you. Some potential challenges you may face include the following.

Mental Health Concerns

A loved one struggling with addiction or in treatment can bring up a lot of emotions. You may begin experiencing anxiety, depression, or other symptoms. To care for a loved one, you must care for yourself or risk burning out. 

Losing Control

You may have to deal with a loss of control. Watching a loved one go through detox and treatment can be emotionally taxing. Support members tend to want to do whatever they can to help. However, you must acknowledge and accept that getting better is something only they can do, and there is only so much help you can provide. 

Reactions

Lastly, you must prepare for complex emotions and reactions from your loved one. They may resent your intrusion initially and say hurtful things. It will be challenging, but you must not take these reactions personally. People can be erratic when they are in denial, detoxing and experiencing withdrawal symptoms, or trying to get used to being substance free. Remember that it is not them attacking you, but their disease attacking the idea of being forced out. 

Encouraging Someone to Seek Treatment for Themselves

Despite the challenges, helping a loved one enter treatment is well worth it. Helping someone get their life back and entering a life free of active addiction can be fulfilling. When you help someone you love, the outcome is priceless. It will be a long road with many challenges, heartbreaks, and complex emotions, but that should not keep you from being an instrumental member of your loved one's support system. 

Behavioral addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) impact millions across the United States annually. However, for every person struggling with addiction, there is an entire family and support system of people also affected by addiction. If you are one of those people, know you are not alone. Helping a loved one seek treatment can be challenging but well worth it. You can help someone by hosting an intervention, talking to professionals, and utilizing additional resources to encourage them to enter treatment and choose a life of recovery for themself. For more information about what you can do to help your loved one seek treatment, call NorthStar Transitions today at (303) 558-6400.

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