How to Help an Addict during the Holidays

The holidays are a time to celebrate, but they can also be extremely stressful for addicts. Family problems and lack of money around this time of year cause many people to increase their drug or alcohol abuse or return to an old addiction. For these reasons, the holidays present a challenge to people who want to help friends or family members kick the habit. Here are some tips for approaching this situation.

1. Listen without judgment
Let the addict tell you what they?re experiencing with their addiction. Don?t dismiss their feelings or give them a self-righteous speech about their behavior, as this will only create feelings of guilt and make the addict want to continue abusing drugs and alcohol. Be empathetic and let them know that you understand.

2. Encourage the addict?s efforts at quitting
If the addict is improving in any way, let them know that you recognize their achievements and are proud of them. Recent progress in abstinence should be praised because it?s difficult at any time of year. Be sure to give genuine encouragement; avoid patronizing.

3. Stand your ground concerning addiction
It?s important for you to empathize with the addict, but always be clear on where you stand regarding their addiction. Don?t condone any form of drug or alcohol abuse, period. At the same time, don?t try to actively control any adult addict?s behavior. Let them learn their own lessons unless their actions put themselves or others at risk.

4. Keep stress to a minimum
Let go of the addict?s past failures and transgressions. Bringing up past events they are ashamed of will only feed their addiction. Do what you can to help the addict feel like part of the group, and avoid bringing up serious issues that might ruin the moment and drive the addict away, physically or emotionally.

5. Treat the addict lovingly
No treatment will be as effective as giving the addict your trust and love. Open you heart to the addict, making sure to let them know that you support their efforts to quit and want them to be happy.

6. Don?t humiliate the addict
Addicts are all different, but none are proud of being addicted. There?s no need to tell other people about the addict?s struggles or bring up private matters around others.

These are only general guidelines for helping an addict around the holidays. Always remember that rather than being bad people, addicts are simply struggling with something very challenging. With your support, the addict may have an easier time breaking free of addiction.

This post was written by Jeanie on behalf of Oklahoma drug rehab. In her spare time Jeanie loves to spend time with her two boys and bake.

Photo: xavitalleda

Source: http://www.everydayhowto.net/health-and-wellbeing/how-to-help-an-addict-during-the-holidays/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-help-an-addict-during-the-holidays

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