When Your Loved One Promises to Stop Using Drugs On Their Own
Addiction used to be a struggle that seemed to only affect certain parts of the population.
But it’s clear to see today that has changed…
Addiction is now affecting Americans from every background.
No one is immune.
And people continue to feel its effects from the cities to the towns, to the suburbs.
With upward of 72,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017 alone in the U.S., including sharp increases in fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdose, everyone is understandably alarmed.
To give you an idea of how massive this problem is, the estimated number of opioid-related deaths in 2016 was around 42,000.
It’s easy to see why people are on edge…
They see their parents, siblings, children, other relatives, and friends being affected by addiction.
Drug Addiction is a Disease of Denial
Although drug use has become more common, it is still serious and its effects devastate lives.
If addiction has affected someone you love and you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath.
There is no rule book when it comes to dealing with addiction.
Wondering what to say, how to act, and feeling lost is something that many others face.
In some respects, going through something like this can make you feel isolated and alone.
But you have to give yourself a break and remember that many others have been in your shoes.
Watching a loved one deteriorate due to drug use is not easy.
The problems that come along with addiction continue to pile up.
It leads to loss of employment, education, custody of children, relationships and more.
If you find yourself in this situation, keep in mind that your loved one is most likely in deep denial.
Many drug users believe they can stop using on their own – but the professionals know that it’s just not true.
A lot of drug users will make multiple attempts to quit.
After little time has passed, they tend to fall back into the same old cycle.
The withdrawal symptoms when they stop using can be quite severe.
Even the most determined people can end up falling back into addiction because of withdrawal symptoms.
It’s important to know that addiction is a very complex disease that oftentimes gets worse before it may get better.
Aspects of Drug Addiction to Consider
Addiction can absolutely devastate a person’s life, not to mention the lives of everyone around them.
If you have to deal with your loved one’s bad decisions – it can be difficult to bear.
Trying to shield yourself from continuing to witness the self-destruction is not an easy task.
The saddest part of it all is that your loved one probably thinks they are in control.
Addiction tricks people.
It tells them that despite all contrary evidence, they can quit when they want.
Drug users frequently hide their problem and believe they have their lives together.
They hide it from employers, co-workers and the important people in their lives.
In reality, most people are not as inconspicuous as they’d like to believe.
After a while, things will be pretty clear and obvious.
But still, it can be difficult to watch them insist that they’re okay.
They say they can solve their own problems, which is far from the truth.
An addiction professional is almost always what is needed in this situation.
Intervention is the best answer for those who are living in deep denial and will not seek help.
Addiction Intervention Can Save Your Loved One’s Life
If you’re tired of hearing your loved one say they are going to quit as if they are a broken record,
This action, often led by a trusted medical professional or doctor along with family and friends, can give drug users little chance for wiggle room, essentially letting them know that getting help is the only way they’ll survive.
Therefore, Addiction can completely alter one’s brain, and even if a person wants to stop, they may not be able to.
Particularly with drugs, these substances interfere with how neurons send, receive and process signals from neurotransmitters.
Many drugs can influence changes within the brain, which can make a person act and think in a very detrimental way.
After using these highly addictive substances for years, your loved one’s addiction may likely progress to the point where they’re trapped in a cycle of life-threatening decisions and desperation to get high.
So your loved one may be crying out for help without even knowing.
An interventionist can help appeal to those deep feelings that your loved one carries.
The whole strategy is to work through manipulation tactics and defense mechanisms that have become a second nature to your loved one.
It’s incredible what a properly-planned and executed intervention can accomplish for a person’s life.
If you’re struggling to cope with a loved one’s drug addiction, please remember that there is hope for everyone involved.
To increase the chances of getting your loved one help, you should consider intervention.
Call us today and see how we can help.
