How to Ask for Help With Addiction

One of the first steps in starting addiction treatment is reaching out to friends and family to get help. Each person is different, but everyone has someone that loves and supports them. It is important to have that support system throughout the entire treatment. After treatment, the patient will need someone to hold them accountable. 

There is no easy way to ask for help from others. But the only way to improve yourself and change is to ask for help. It admits that one is human and needs help to change and improve one’s life. Getting help is a better treatment plan when family and friends can hold one accountable for one’s recovery.

What Prevents From Someone From Asking for Help?

Feelings along the lines of pride or shame may prohibit someone from asking for help. These feelings can prevent the person from seeing their addiction as a problem or make them think that they can do it on their own. They may believe that others would judge them on what they have done. They also may believe that no one would want to help and no one can understand what they have gone through. As such, they may feel alone and isolated in their situation. 

Anxiety and fear can keep people from seeking help sooner. These feelings come from not wanting to bother others or care what others may think. There is also the fear of letting go of addiction and all that may entail. These fears include the withdrawal symptoms and detox that may come with treatment. They also may be scared of possibly relapsing, which can be very dangerous. But these feelings that a person has often do not match reality because there are people who want to help and want what is best for that person. People do not often talk about what they have struggled with because of the mindset that no one else would relate to or understand what they have gone through. 

It’s important to know that many of these fears and concerns are simply not true. While a person may be embarrassed or ashamed of their struggles with addiction, the people who care about them are usually encouraging and supportive when asked for help. They care about you and want you to get help. Likewise, most addiction treatment centers are filled with staff who know about addiction and have even overcome addiction themselves. They understand your fears and struggles and are eager to help you as well.

How Your Family May React to Your Addiction?

Depending on how close a person is to their family, the family may react differently to the person wanting to seek treatment. Most families try to look after one another and help each other when they can. Families are often the people who make a person feel loved and supported. Families that have a close bond with each other will often be more supportive.

Addiction can run in the family, so families who have a history of addiction may be more supportive of someone getting help. But they also might do the opposite because they may think they do not have a problem. But they can learn and their perspective of themselves can be changed. Families that are not very close may not be supportive because of the family dynamic they have. Educate the family on what addiction means and what treatment and recovery will look like to help change a family’s perspective. Some may have the wrong idea of what addiction is and how it has affected you. 

What Other Resources Are Out There?

If a family is not as supportive as needed or the family needs to be more involved in treatment, there are a couple of options. One of the main options is family therapy. You can click here to learn more about family therapy and what it can do for you. This option helps those whose family might have been an essential part of someone’s life that has lead them to addiction or allow the family to hold the person accountable when they get out of treatment. Holding the person accountable can help prevent them from possibly relapsing and help them with their goals. Family therapy can also help the person with any mental health issues they may be facing. 

Other therapies can help the patient better themselves and better their surroundings. You can find more information on other family therapies here. Family therapies can help recovery and ease the transition from treatment into the real world. It also helps change and adapt new behaviors that are beneficial to the family as well as the one receiving addiction treatment. 

Asking for help with addiction is one of the most challenging steps at the beginning of recovery. Thoughts and feelings such as shame and pride may prevent someone from asking for help. There are also feelings of anxiety and fear that come with asking for help. These feelings are normal when wanting to start treatment but can keep someone from seeking help sooner. There are people who love you and want to help you and support you in your recovery. While your family might disagree with how you are changing, there are resources to help ease your transition with your family. By educating and sharing your struggles, your family will be able to understand the best way to help you on your journey. At RECO Intensive, located in Delray Beach, Florida, we offer several family therapies to help support your treatment and recovery. For more information, call (561) 464-6533.