Bad habits are so hard to break. I was a smoker for about 30 years and couldn't seem to break the habit no matter what I tried. Every now and then, I was able to quite for a few weeks, but then, when I started smoking again, I smoked far more than I did before I quit. It wasn't until I accepted the fact that my smoking was a real problem and reached out for professional help with quitting. I started going to counseling and learned a lot about my bad habits and why it was so hard for me to give them up. This blog is all about counseling to break bad habits.
If you know someone who is dealing with drug addiction, it can be extremely difficult to witness someone you care about hurting themselves by using drugs. Whether you're a close friend or a family member of a drug addict, there are several things you should and should not do in order to make dealing with the situation easier both for yourself and the person who is addicted. Here are some tips to help you deal with addiction within your personal circle of friends or family.
Don't Be An Enabler
Drug addicts will most likely obtain and use drugs whether they get your approval or not. However, you can prevent the situation on a personal level by refusing to be an enabler. An enabler is someone who assumes the person will use drugs anyway, and either shrugs their shoulders or refuses to put their foot down and object to the drug use. Even if you don't mean to, enabling someone subconsciously tells the addict that you're condoning their behavior. When you can, make it very clear that you are not OK with the person using drugs, and that you refuse to contribute to helping them use or get their hands on drugs in any way, shape, or form.
Get Professional Help
Rehab facilities (such as http://www.olalla.org), counseling, and even therapy sessions for friends and family members of drug users can be extremely helpful when dealing with addiction. Whether it's enrolling the person in an outpatient or inpatient facility, attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings, or just talking to someone about the problem, outside help can be very influential in a positive way. If you cannot convince the person who is addicted to get help, you should still seek counseling of your own. Even for those who are not addicted, dealing with someone with a chemical dependency can take a real emotional toll. Make sure you're not neglecting your own emotional needs when you're dealing with an addict, and be sure you're getting proper support.
Face Reality
It is very important to understand the harsh realities that come with drug addiction. The person you love could face a wide variety of serious problems ranging from possible jail time and health problems to death by overdose. When you're coping with a drug addict, you must face the reality that some of these problems could occur. Be sure you're prepared to deal with the aftermath of drug addiction, and make sure that the person who is using drugs is also aware of these very serious implications as well. Keep in mind that the longer someone uses drugs, the higher the odds are that they'll either be arrested or suffer the physical consequences of long term drug use. While coping with a family member or friend who is addicted is never easy, it's essential that you get the tools you need to be able to handle this very serious situation.
Share4 March 2016
