Watching a spouse struggling with addiction is one of the most difficult predicaments a person can face. You have a long road ahead of you if your husband or wife has a drug addiction problem, but the good news is that the two of you can work together to get through it. The following are some tips for getting help for substance abuse.
Get Self-Help First
The first step in helping your spouse through a substance abuse issue is getting help for yourself. You will have to be this person’s backbone and support system through one of the most difficult situations a spouse can face. You will need to learn coping techniques so that you don’t blame yourself for his or her addiction. You will also have to learn strategies to use so that you can maximize the help you offer your spouse. Take the time to conduct some research to find out how you can be your loved one’s means of support through this crisis.
You may also want to study rehabilitation centers in the area and read about their programs and their success rates. For instance, Windward Way is a treatment facility located in Southern California. Your spouse may choose to visit such a center to detoxify and recover from the drug dependency. You can be a light in his or her life during this time.
Conduct an Intervention
An intervention may be necessary if your spouse is being resistant to getting help for substance abuse. You and some of the other members of your family may have to orchestrate an intervention. An intervention is an age-old tool that professionals use to get family members to seek help when they need it. Everyone in the family joins forces and meets up with the addicted person to talk to them about their problem. They tell stories about how the affected person has changed their lives an influenced their quality of living. Interventions are very emotional and stressful, but many of them are successful. A number of people have gone off to rehab after talking to their family members during an intervention.
Enlist Family Members and Friends to Help
Now is the time when you need as much support as possible from your friends and family members. You can enlist some of them to help you with different things while you’re working with your spouse to kick the addiction. For example, you may ask one of your trusted family members to keep your children for you while you spend some quality time with your spouse. They can also be the people you go to when you need some comforting words or a positive vibe. Family can often help you financially, as well. They can be your rock while your spouse goes to seek rehabilitation services.
Put Money in a Safe Place
Putting money in a safe place is an excellent idea while you are aiding your spouse through addiction issues. Addiction often causes drug-seeking behaviors, and you’ll want to have a fund that you can count on when you need to take care of important responsibilities.
Those are just a few things you can do to help your loved one through this challenging time. The struggle may seem like it’s an uphill battle, but you must always keep hope alive. Things can get better if the two of you work together as a team with a common enemy. Millions of other people are struggling or have struggled with the same issues, and many of them have survived as conquerors.
