10 Facts That Will Change the Way You Think About Addiction

The first step is to understand that addiction is a disease. Just like any other chronic illness, it requires professional medical treatment. You can’t “fix” someone with addiction; only they can do that for themselves. However, there are two things you can do to understand and support them during their fight for sobriety.

1. Educate yourself on the truths about substance dependence.

A paper published in Addiction describes 10 of the most important things we need to realize about substance dependence. They are:

1. Compulsive behavior is at the core of addiction.
2. For most people with a substance problem, initiating drug-seeking behavior lies outside their conscious control.
3. It can run in the family.
4. Most people who need help with addiction also need help with other mental health problems.
5. Substance dependence is often a chronic condition, and people are prone to relapse.
6. A good relationship between the individual and the therapist is more important than the type of de-addiction psychotherapy used, which all have similar outcomes.
7. We don’t have to wait for the affected individual to be motivated to quit. Instead, quietly listening to their experiences while offering empathy and human connection is a great first step.
8. Treatment plans must be customized for an individual’s unique situation and must address the social problems they face.
9. It is hard to manufacture epiphanies.
10. It is not wise to expect quick results, as change takes time.

2. Be patient, present, and loving.

A study published in Addictive Behaviors revealed that those who were dependent on substances had a more insecure style of attachment compared to healthy individuals. One of the best ways to show someone you care for them is to be present in their lives but not directly confront them about their use.

Instead, what you could do is show them that you care about their health, safety, and well-being. Here are a few examples of what you could say:

• “Have you been sleeping well? You look like you need some rest. Is there anything I can do to help?”
• “Your fridge is empty. Shall we go grocery shopping today?”
• “You look like you haven’t seen the sun in a while. Can we go to the park later?”

This way, you show them how much you love them and also help them with the aspects of their life they are neglecting because of their condition."

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

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