Living with someone with an addiction is not an easy experience for anyone involved. Watching your loved one face their own demons and try to conquer them is both emotionally and mentally taxing, and being there for them through the times they break down and relapse takes its toll. However, once your loved one has accepted they need help, there are several things you can do to make it easier for them.

1. Eliminate any drugs or alcohol in the home.

Remove their access to the item of their addiction. In the process, you remove the temptation to relapse back into consuming alcohol or taking drugs. It’s far easier to resist the urge to fall back into old habits if you do not have easy access, and the only way to get more is to drive to the store or call a dealer.

2. Look up rehab programs.

It may be time for your loved one to accept that their addiction isn’t something they can overcome through willpower alone. There is no shame in seeking help from a rehab center. There are a number of rehab program in Delray that can be helpful for anyone trying to overcome alcohol abuse, drug addiction, or any other number of self-destructive behaviors. The first step to the road of recovery is admitting there is a problem. Help your loved one to realize this.

3. Learn to say no.

It can be difficult to say no to someone you love, especially when they come to you pleading and begging. It’s usually when the urges are the most powerful that this will happen, and their desperate state can be difficult to ignore. In addition, many suffering from addiction will guilt-trip you or lie in order to get what they want. Learn to say no to someone, no matter how difficult it may be. Your stubborn refusal may be the only thing standing between them and the loss of all their progress.

4. Love firmly.

It’s important that an addict know they are loved. When their mind and body is suffering through the withdrawal symptoms, it’s easy for them to slip into depression. Knowing you’re there fighting with them every step of the way can be encouraging. However, you must also be firm in your love; forgive them, but don’t condone their behavior. Make it very clear that they must overcome their demons if you are to have a future together.

5. Seek out support for yourself.

The amount of emotional toll you’re under when living with an addict cannot be understated. There will be times when it seems like you can’t keep going. Make sure to seek out and build up a support group for yourself; a best friend, a trusted family member, or a professional counselor you can call in times of heartache is essential. By ensuring your own emotional health is taken care of, you can focus on tending to the needs of someone else.

6. Make your home a stress-free zone.

Stress is one of the main triggers for alcohol or drug dependencies. By removing and eliminating any sources of stress in your home, you prevent your loved one from falling back into their old habits. Handle commonly stressful subjects like finances on your own. When it comes to external stressors, speak with your loved one and work through it. Remain calm and collected at all times, and sympathize with them. Suggest meditation or journaling as a way for them to vent their fears and concerns and refocus all of that stressful, negative energy into something positive.

7. Exercise.

When the urge to drink or do drugs strikes, take your loved one to the gym. Go outside for a run. Refocusing those urges on self improvement is a fantastic way to overcome them, enabling your loved one to put a use to the anxious energy they have when the urges strike. It also gives their minds something to focus on rather than the burning need to fall back into their old habits.
Learning how to help a love one with addiciton can be difficult. However, by following these general guidelines you can make the process easier and the road to recovery a shorter one.