When Someone You Love Has an Addiction: 5 Tips on How to Help an Addict

Published on: 25 December 2018 Last Updated on: 08 August 2019
how to help an addict

Helping someone who has addiction problems can be a challenge. Unlike other health issues, people who are addicts will actively try to avoid getting help.

Read this article to find out how to help an addict.

1. Know the Signs:

In order to help someone who has addiction issues, first, you need to recognize that they have a problem. Learn the signs of addiction so you can see them in your loved ones.

For example, you might notice mood swings, abrupt changes in sleeping pattern and appetite, and changes in physical appearance. Addicts may also try to frequently borrow money.

When addiction becomes serious, the addict may no longer be able to keep up with their responsibilities. They might also stop enjoying some of the things they once liked to do.

2. How to Help an Addict? Establish Trust:

If an addict feels you aren’t someone they can trust, they might cut you out of their life. Avoid nagging, lecturing, and making personal attacks. In most cases, this sort of thing will just act as a trigger and cause the addict to indulge in their addiction even more.

Instead, be patient and try to be understanding. Recognize that deciding to go into recovery can take time.

You can’t force an addict into recovery. But if you’ve established trust, you can guide them towards it when the time is right.

3. Take Care of Yourself:

It’s important that you take care of your own well-being when trying to help an addict. Set clear boundaries and don’t let the addict overstep them. If you allow yourself to become stressed out by the situation, you’re just going to make things worse in the long run.

Also, you shouldn’t engage in any addictive behaviors yourself. You won’t have much credibility if you’re telling them to get help while you’re drinking a case of beer a day.

4. Don’t Protect Them From Consequences:

While this is difficult to do, it’s often a bad move to protect your loved one from the consequences of their actions. Facing up to the results of their negative behavior is often what an addict needs to recognize they have a problem.

If you shelter an addict from the consequences, you might just be preventing them from making a recovery.

5. Accept That It’ll Take Time:

If you want to provide good addiction support, you need to accept that it’ll take time. Don’t expect miracles.

Recovering from addiction is a long road. In some cases, an addict might relapse.

If this happens, you shouldn’t overreact. For many addicts, relapse is a natural part of recovery.

Be There for Your Loved Ones:

Now you know a bit more about how to help an addict. It’s important to remember that you can do everything right, and it still might not work out.

Do what you can for your loved one, but don’t allow it to become excessively detrimental to your own life.

Want to know more about outpatient rehab? Then check out our blog post.

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Vein Specialist

7 Signs Which Indicate That You Need To See a Vein Specialist Right Now

Vein health is imperative for keeping your circulatory system in a good condition because veins are responsible for pumping the blood from the body organs back to the heart. However, a majority of people are averse to vein health as they think that pain and discomfort in the veins are minor issues. No wonder, problems such as spider veins and varicose veins are becoming so common. People seldom seek medical guidance right from the initial stages and suffer in silence while the disease aggravates. Lack of timely treatment sometimes even results in serious complications such as Deep Vein Thrombosis. If you are struggling with even minor vein issues, you should not ignore them and take medical guidance. 7 Signs Which Indicate That You Need To See a Vein Specialist Right Now Here are 7 signs that indicate that you need to see a vein specialist right now: 1. Your experience leg weakness after standing for long intervals You may think that it is normal to feel weakness in the legs after standing for a while even if you do not have any other medical problem. This could, however, be an early indication of poor vein health. Varicose veins make your legs feel heavy and weak, particularly after standing or sitting in the same position for hours. See a specialist immediately if you experience this issue regularly. 2. Your leg pain is hampering physical activity Leg pain could be a symptom of varicose veins though there could be some other factors at play. If you experience aching and throbbing in your legs for a prolonged period and are unable to do your daily activities due to the pain, it is time to seek vein clinic help. The specialists here can evaluate whether the pain is due to vein damage and chalk out a treatment plan for you. 3. You have rashes or dryness near your ankle Another telltale sign that you may be suffering from vein problems is a rash or dryness of the skin near your ankles. This could be an indication that your veins are damaged and are not doing their job properly. The condition may get worse if not treated in time as the itch or rash may lead to a venous ulcer at a later stage. So it is better to see a doctor and address the problem before it is too late. 4. You have developed leg ulcers Ignoring rashes and itchiness can cause leg ulcers, which are commonly seen in the calf and ankle areas. Diabetic patients are at high risk of having them. This is one problem that you should not ignore because it points out the presence of vein disease and diabetes (if not diagnosed yet). A vein specialist can offer the right treatment for ulcers before they get worse. 5. You have swelling in one of your legs and it goes after resting Swelling in your legs could be caused by a number of health issues but if it happens it one of the legs, it is probably because of venous insufficiency. Diagnosis is even more likely if the swelling goes after resting for a while or after waking up in the morning. If you experience such symptoms, you should see a specialist at the earliest. 6. Your veins have turned blue and are bulging The most noticeable signs of vein issues are discoloration and bulging of the veins. If you find your veins turning purple or blue in color along with visible bulging, a medical consultation is warranted. These are the symptoms of varicose veins and should be addressed at the earliest to prevent the formation of blood clots. 7. You have a tender lump in your leg Another concern that you should not ignore is the presence of a tender lump in your leg. This may not always mean that you have a vein-related issue but it could probably be caused by a blood clot in the vein. If you spot anything like this, do not delay an appointment with a vein specialist. These signs are the danger signals that your body sends and you should never ignore them. Pregnant women should be particularly vigilant as hormonal changes and increase in weight and vascular volume can aggravate varicose veins during pregnancy. Those who have suffered from vein issues during their first pregnancy should be extra careful during the subsequent ones. Timely consultation and proper treatment from an expert specialist can help to resolve vein-related issues effectively. Your veins play an important role in keeping you healthy and they deserve all the attention and care that you can give. Read Also : 5 Mental Health Benefits Of Massage Therapy That You Must Know How Can Stress During Studies Affect The Health Of Your Children? 7 Health Benefits Of Black Seed Oil

READ MOREDetails
owning a Vape Online

7 Things You Should Know About Owning a Vape

Vaping: it's the hottest trend that is rapidly spreading across the nation's youth. While once viewed as a "healthier" alternative to smoking, e-cigarettes quickly spread in popularity from those looking to quit smoking to youthful users to recreational use. Also known as "vaping," this practice is rapidly spreading. Storefronts for vape devices and e-juice are popping up everywhere making it increasingly easy for anyone to get their hands on vaping devices. Owning a Vape is not a crime but in excess quantity can create problems. Despite the widespread popularity of this practice, there is still much to be learned about vaping. We have compiled a few facts that users should know about owning a vape in the article below. Different Facts You Must Know Before Owning A Vape There are multiple ways you can own a vape before using it for your personal pleasure. Do not make your choices in grey while you want to make use of it. Owning a vape is one of the most essential facts that you need to consider at your end. 1. E-Cigarettes and Vaping Devices Do Pose Some Risk: Vaping was once viewed as a risk-free alternative to smoking, due to the reduction of second-hand smoke and a smaller amount of nicotine in e-liquids. Although this thought is mostly true, there are many adverse health complications that have yet to be addressed such as damage to the brain, heart, and lungs and the development of these organs, preterm delivery and stillbirth, and even cancer. Owning a vape will no longer a bigger problem for you. 2. Using E-Cigarettes May Not Help You Quit Smoking: This is quite a bold statement, considering this was part of the purpose of developing e-cigarettes. However, it should be noted that e-juice/e-liquids still contain nicotine, which is what makes the act of tobacco-use so addicting. Oftentimes, the use of e-cigarettes does not lead to smoking cessation. It can easily evolve into an additional method of smoking, which increases the nicotine intake for users. 3. The Risks of E-Cigarettes May Be Increased For Young People: Younger generations are extremely vulnerable to use e-cigarettes and vaping devices, which makes them more likely to suffer ill health effects from this habit. The younger the age of the individual the first time they try nicotine, the easier it is to become addicted. If you pair that with the physiology that the common young adult's brain is still developing and not able to adequately deal with the side effects of an addictive substance and you have a recipe for a lifelong addiction. 4. E-Cigarettes and Vapes are Not FDA-Approved: Despite the common belief that these items are regulated by the FDA, these devices are not approved as a smoking cessation aid. Due to the recent increase in the popularity of these items, the FDA is becoming more involved in their regulation. However, marketing restrictions are not placed on these devices, making it simple to market to the younger generation. In 2015, the FDA extended regulatory authority to CTP's over all tobacco products. This act was followed by a 2018 requirement for a nicotine "addictiveness" warning imposed on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. 5. The Jury is Still Out on the Safety of Aerosol Inhalants: Due to a lack of information and research on e-cigarettes and vapes, little is known about the long-term effects of utilizing aerosol as an inhalant. What is a concern are the ultrafine particles, toxins, and heavy metals that are often additives in e-juice? In fact, it makes take years for reliable studies on the use of vaping devices to emerge. Some vape shops will also make and sell their own mixes or modify products. For a product that already isn't regulated by the FDA, this becomes a topic of concern. 6. The Spread of Vaping May Be Normalizing the Act of Smoking: Do you remember hearing stories of your grandmother smoking in the hospital? What about going out to eat with smoke billowing in your face as a child? To read that sentence sounds asinine to us; however, smoking used to be the cultural norm. Through labeling requirements, marketing techniques, and ongoing studies, the rate of smokers in the U.S. has been on the decline. Smoking bans are now common practice, as are cigarette taxes. Yet, the use of e-cigarettes could undo all of the progress that has been made to discourage smoking. Sleek e-cig styles, handheld devices, flavored e-juice, and low cost make these products even more desirable to the younger generation. Ease of access to these devices is also a concern. As of 2018, the FDA estimates that "3.62 million middle to high school students were users of e-cigarettes". 7. E-cigarettes Can Be Used for Other Recreational Purposes: With the rise in state-level marijuana laws, vapes are becoming used more popularly on a recreational level. E-cigarettes make it easy to smoke virtually anywhere at any time without most bystanders knowing a thing. Flavored juices easily mask the smell of any additives, which makes this practice even more desirable for recreational use. Review of the Facts: Although e-cigarettes are gaining popularity, especially in the younger generation, much more research needs to be done to determine the safety of this practice. The first step would need to be regulation of e-cigarettes and e-juices, followed by implementation and monitoring health standards, and then firmed up by recurring studies regarding the safety of vaping. This type of product is greatly marketed to youth, Ironically, this user age dynamic includes the individuals who are most likely to experience the negative effects of vaping. While each individual is responsible for their own choices, it is our duty to provide the facts to potential users so that they can weigh the benefits vs. consequences of vaping. Vape Online Gold Coast can help provide reputable information about vaping for potential users. Read Also: Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking? Vaping: More Than Just A Fad Vaping In The Workplace: Legal Considerations Free Yourself – How To Stop Smoking

READ MOREDetails
Eye Doctor

6 Signs Of A Reputable Eye Doctor In Fort Myers

If you’re experiencing blurry vision, discomfort or pain in your eyes, then it’s best to seek medical advice from an eye doctor. People tend to neglect these symptoms thinking that they will eventually go away. But more often than not those symptoms associated with a more serious eye problem. Having your eyes checked should be a part of your annual health exam, and it’s important to consult a reputable eye doctor. 6 Signs Of A Reputable Eye Doctor In Fort Myers: If you’re not sure how to choose your eye doctor, here are some things to look for: 1. Positive reviews from his patients: Ask your family or friends if they know a good eye doctor, so you will already have their experiences as a gauge of his or her services. A good sign of an eye doctor in Fort Myers with an excellent reputation is based on the number of referrals he’s getting. After all, other people won’t recommend doctors if they are not satisfied with the service. Another sign to look for when choosing an eye doctor is the number of positive reviews and feedbacks from his current and previous patients. Check his clinic site or hospital feedback page on what other patients have to say about their experience with your prospective eye doctor. 2. Excellent credentials: Choosing a great eye doctor will benefit you in the long run so it’s important to take the time to review credentials. Not all doctors in Fort Myers are created equal, and some of them acquired extensive knowledge to make them more competitive in the medical industry. Look for doctors with recognition, distinctive awards and even affiliations related to their specialization. Aside from the completion of their doctorate, they should have a proper training and certifications. In this case, it will enhance their expertise. This means that they have the dedications and motivatations to learn more and to be able to serve their patients in the best way possible. The credentials don't have the limitations to the knowledge obtained but also experience in the field. 3. His specialization: There’s a specific kind of eye doctor with knowledge about specific ailments. Some doctors specialize in glaucoma, cataract, eye surgery, and others. Seeking advice from a medical specialist will give the patient the best care and treatment possible, with less or no complications since it’s been appropriately diagnosed and checked by the most appropriate doctor. 4. Excellent communication skills and professionalism: A reputable eye doctor in Fort Myers should adequately explain the current condition of his patient. His responsibility is not that limitations to treating his patient. But this is also about to inform them in the best way about the possible treatments and repercussions concerning the disease. A good one should also properly advise on how to take good care of the eyes depending on the patient’s condition. A good doctor also values the sense of time. A reputable one knows that time is essential for both doctors and patients. Look for attitudes of professionalism, and you’ll be confident that you’re in the hands of a good eye doctor. 5. Updated in technology and medical innovation: You can see a good sign of a reputable eye doctor in Fort Myers if you visit his clinic and he has the well equip-ment with up-to-date technology and equipment he’s using to check his patients. A good eye doctor should keep up with the changing technology and advancements in the field of medicine. He knows that innovations are necessary to provide excellent quality service for the patients. He should also be competent in how he can apply these technologies during his practice. A good doctor knows what to do with the patient and what diagnostic tests should be performed for proper examination. 6. Knows how to reach out to his patients: One of the complaints patients usually have is that they don’t feel comfortable raising their concern with their doctors. Sometimes, it becomes the reason for inaccurate diagnosis rendering the treatment ineffective. A good doctor should be effective in building trust and confidence in his patients. Creating a friendly and reassuring environment is necessary. He should show commitment, dedication and quality time doing consultations and procedures to his patients. Devoting time and sincerest concern to a patient is a quality of a good doctor. Final thoughts: You want to receive the best consultation and treatment as possible, and choosing a good eye doctor in Fort Myers will help you get that. You need to consider not just referrals but other things as well such as his credentials, professionalism, patient interactions and even his adaptation to the advances in technology in his field. Read Also: What Doctor Says About Snoring Have You Heard Of Upcoding? It’s A Big Part Of Medical Fraud

READ MOREDetails