4 Reasons Loved Ones Should Not Ignore the Signs of an Addict
Ignoring the signs of addiction in a loved one can cause the most harm and without the encouragement and understanding of loved ones, the addiction could take a turn for the worst. Many loved ones will ignore the signs of addiction out of shame, anger, or in incorrect understanding of addiction but with the right counselor or therapy, these relationships could be mended.
The addict and loved ones will learn to understand one another from each side of the situation in a safe and calm environment. There are four reasons why loved ones should not ignore the signs of an addiction. For more information about addiction and how you can help, please call 800-481-6320Who Answers?.
Addiction Can Kill
If left untreated, an addiction can become deadly and ignoring the early signs is a good way of ensuring that the addict becomes hospitalized or overdose. Instead of ignoring the signs for convenience, it would be a better idea for the loved one to talk to the addict as soon as the signs begin.
The sooner the loved ones notice the signs of an addiction, the lower the risk for the addict to contract diseases or to become hospitalized and the less time treatment will take to help them recover and return to their old selves.
They Cannot Just Quit
Your loved one needs support and treatment in order to quit.
According to the NIDA, drugs will target the reward system in the brain and encourage the user to use more each time they abuse the drug until they have no choice but to use it in order to feel “normal.”
Some loved ones believe that the addict can stop whenever they want to but the truth is that their body and brain is telling them that they have no choice.
It has nothing to do with whether or not they love their family and friends and more to do with a lack of control of their body due to the effect the addiction substance has on their body. With continued use, the effects will become worse until it becomes deadly and dangerous to continue.
It is Too Hard
Convincing an addict to seek treatment is not the easiest thing in the world and some loved ones have tried and failed to convince their loved one to seek treatment with no success. This will cause many loved ones to give up or think that the addict is too stubborn to listen and ignore the signs with the belief that it is what the addict wants to do so there is nothing to be done.
If a loved one or a family intervention does not work, he or she should look into an interventionist, who is trained and experienced in explaining the consequences of continuing their addiction and the benefits of treatment to help guide them toward recovery.
Most Addicts Lie
Loved ones tend to want to deny that the addict is suffering from drug or alcohol use and when the addict lies about their addiction, those loved ones will choose to believe it. According to the NCBI, lying is very common among drug addicts because they feel that they have no choice if they want to maintain their relationships and use their drugs at the same time.
Some have no choice but to lie because their loved ones will not accept that it is not as easy as setting the drug aside and choosing to stop, and threaten the relationship if the addict doesn’t go cold turkey.
Not all addicts will lie but if the loved one suspects that their addict is lying, they should not ignore the sign but instead try to communicate with them about seeking treatment.
When a loved one falls hard into drugs, it can be much easier for family and friends to ignore it out of shame, anger, or guilt than it is to try to help them. Loved ones should not ignore the signs of addiction because prolonged addiction can cause death or hospitalization, withdrawal is much more difficult than most of society realizes, can postpone the treatment the addict needs to get better, and can cause a rift in the relationship due to lying, which will lead to mistrust.
Someone suffering from addiction will need help to quit their substances but in order to do that, they need to have the support and love of friends and family to guide them along the way without the feeling of carelessness and anger.
If you or someone you know is suffering from substance addiction and needs help, please call 800-481-6320Who Answers? to speak with a caring specialist to assist you.
