Witnessing a loved one struggle with substance abuse is nothing short of heartbreaking. As highlighted by a report by the Bangkok Post, families exposed to addiction tend to have an eroded family structure. That's because they live in households vulnerable to criminal activities. With such families facing financial and emotional adversities, providing support for addiction treatment should become a high-priority familial matter.
What most families don't understand is that addiction is not a choice or a lack of willpower. Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and addiction alter brain chemistry. That is why your loved one may have exhibited drastic changes in their character, like becoming more anxious or aggressive.
Dealing with these changes is one of the most significant hurdles to helping an addict. Many families struggle to balance providing support with setting boundaries. However, this support can make a meaningful difference in a person's successful sobriety with the right approach.
In this guide, we will navigate the challenges of addiction intervention. We will also delve into the practical steps to help your loved one with addiction problems achieve long-term recovery. As one of the leading addiction treatment facilities in Thailand, Sahwan Rehab strives to empower families to play an impactful role in their loved one's sobriety story.
Stigma remains a towering barrier to seeking addiction treatment worldwide. To illustrate its prevalence, consider this statistical data: only 22% of people are willing to work with someone with addiction. That's notably lower than the 62% who are willing to work with a person with mental illness.
Family expectations and societal norms also add to the stigma surrounding stigma. In some families, their reputation is deeply ingrained in their values. That often leads to them hiding a loved one's struggles with substance abuse instead of seeking medical help. Such fear of judgment creates a barrier to treatment, making open discussions about recovery more challenging.
One way to change this mindset is to perceive addiction not as a moral failing. It is a complex medical condition compounded by factors like a person's brain circuits, genetics, and environment. That also indicates that addiction can target anyone if they try a drug. As stated by the World Health Organization, addiction can happen to someone who uses a certain drug for the first time, not only to those who regularly use it.
To explain how addiction works as a medical condition, its primary approach is to "rewire" a person's brain. Addiction hijacks the dopamine system, flooding the brain with feel-good chemicals. That also reinforces compulsive drug-seeking behavior, which usually manifests in intense cravings, poor judgment, and loss of control. Hence, people need to view addiction as a chronic yet treatable disease.
Like other chronic illnesses (such as diabetes and hypertension), addiction requires long-term treatment and management. This is why familial support for addiction recovery is crucial.
Since addiction alters brain functions, conversations on this matter are best approached with care and strategy. A loved one with SUD may meet such conversations with either openness or resistance. Their response will largely depend on the conversation's timing, tone, and setting.
For a meaningful engagement, choose a moment when your loved one is sober and calm. As for the tone, a supportive, nonjudgmental manner of speaking helps foster trust. Lastly, choose a private, comfortable setting to hold these conversations. All these efforts create a safe space for honest communication to thrive.
To put this into perspective, a study has revealed that an addiction intervention with family involvement has an 80% success rate. A person with drug problems is motivated to pursue sobriety if they know their loved ones have their back. One impactful way you can express your support is through your words.
Supportive language promotes trust and encouragement. For instance, when expressing concern, it's best to say, "I'm worried about you, so I'm here to support you." Such compassionate words help break down guilt and shame, compared to blaming statements like "You're ruining your life!"
Once open and honest dialogue has been achieved, the next goal is to maintain it. Setting boundaries prevents enabling behavior while reinforcing accountability. Establishing your limits when providing support for addiction treatment also avoids codependency. That way, your loved one will feel more responsible for their recovery.
After touching on the importance of setting boundaries, the concept of enabling surfaces. Enabling happens when well-intentioned actions shield a loved one from the consequences of drug abuse. Doing so reinforces their addiction, even when it's unintentional.
In various families, enabling may manifest in different ways. Some of the most common include hiding a loved one's mistake or avoiding conversations to prevent conflict. While these actions seem to protect your loved one, enabling them usually leads to delays in recovery. Based on our experience in providing professional support for addiction recovery, people with addiction problems are less likely to seek help if they don't experience the full extent of their actions.
Hence, instead of enabling, offer support that promotes accountability. Focus on constructive actions, like setting boundaries, to foster long-term sobriety. Consider these practical approaches to helping an addict:
Practice Active Listening: Let your loved one share their feelings without interruption. In some conversations, it's best to hold back on offering immediate solutions. Sometimes, it's enough to make your loved one feel like they're heard.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge their progress, no matter how minor. Recovery can be a long, arduous process. Recognizing even the smallest steps will inspire them to move forward.
Offer Practical Assistance: Logistic hurdles can be overwhelming for people battling addiction. Removing these barriers will make seeking help more accessible. But again, be mindful not to take over their responsibilities to avoid enabling.
Encourage Professional Help: Gently suggest holistic addiction intervention without forcing this decision. You may also help your loved one research options and accompany them if they are hesitant.
Trying detox alone can be dangerous. That's because withdrawal from substances will likely cause health complications.
According to a study of 585 people's experiences of stopping drug use, 73% claimed to have dealt with withdrawal symptoms. The most common ones include insomnia, nervousness, and extreme emotions. 23% of them took at least one year to withdraw successfully.
Those undergoing addiction recovery without professional guidance are also at high risk of relapsing. When unsupported, the intense cravings and discomfort these individuals feel will be challenging to manage, leading them back to substance use. All these highlight the value of seeking professional support for addiction treatment.
Medical supervision ensures your loved one's safety during detox. Health professionals are available to monitor vital signs and provide necessary medications. They will also offer emotional support, making the process not only safer but also more comfortable.
As a compelling example, consider how we handle addiction intervention and treatment at our facility. Sahwan Rehab's drug rehab program is divided into two main elements:
The Medical Component: This component focuses more on withdrawal management. Our health experts will also responsibly prescribe detox medications to address any mental or physical health concerns.
The Psychological and Behavioral Component: The primary aim is to address any mental, emotional, and behavioral factors that worsen the addiction. Activities that fall under this component include therapy, mindfulness exercises, and recreation.
Blending these two components paves the way for holistic care. One dominant treatment method we use is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Often combined with detox medications, this therapy approach identifies and addresses a person's negative thought patterns and behaviors that lead to substance abuse. CBT also treats underlying mental health conditions. That includes anxiety or depression since these conditions usually co-occur with addiction.
Hence, professional treatment is necessary for your loved one to achieve long-term sobriety. But that doesn't mean familial support can be removed from the treatment equation. Family involvement and a stable environment reinforce all addiction intervention efforts.
Most families may wonder how they can provide support while their loved one resides at a rehab facility. Perceiving recovery as a solitary process is a common (yet harmful) misconception.
Proactive support from family members can empower a facility's way of helping an addict. That's why exploring how to provide meaningful support in this context is also valuable. Here are some practical ways you can uphold this responsibility:
Stay in Touch: Communicate with your loved ones via approved channels. Regular calls, letters, and emails (if permitted) give a recovering person much-needed assurance. These talks will prove to them that they aren't alone in their pursuit of healing.
Respect Treatment Boundaries: Always adhere to rehab guidelines, as these are set for the sake of addiction treatment. Some rules may include limiting contact and avoiding visits during crucial phases. While regular communication is beneficial for recovery, following these guidelines will help prevent codependency.
Participate in Family Counselling: Some treatment facilities, like Sahwan Rehab, offer family therapy. Engaging in these sessions will help correct any lingering misconceptions about addiction. Such therapy promotes healthier relationships and is one of the best ways to prepare for a loved one's return from rehab.
Prepare a Stable Home: While your loved one is away, your home must undergo necessary changes. Be sure to remove possible triggers while encouraging a substance-free lifestyle. Improving the home environment is a crucial step to easing their transition post-rehab.
Supporting a loved one demands patience and commitment to their long-term healing. Taking these practical steps to heart contributes to a strong recovery foundation. However, it's also important to recognize that providing support for addiction recovery can be taxing for families.
To sustain this role, you and your family must prioritize each other's well-being. Find support among yourselves to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy care approach.
Addiction recovery involves facing several complexities, such as possible relapses. Alarmingly, a clinical treatment study has estimated that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks or months of treatment.
This data highlights the crucial role of familial support in mitigating these risks. With the right approach, you can help give emotional stability to your loved one to overcome the urge to relapse.
Experts have defined "relapse" as a return to substance use after a period of sobriety. While this may sound alarming, relapsing is a common part of the recovery process. Families must understand that a relapse doesn't equate to a failed recovery attempt. Rather, the occurrence of this issue signals the need to adjust your loved one's addiction intervention or support approach.
The causes of relapse are traceable to several factors. These can range from severe stress levels, emotional triggers, lack of coping skills, or influences from past environments. Other overlooked factors also contribute to the possibility of a relapse. Some of the typical ones we've identified from our work experience include leaving underlying mental health conditions untreated and overconfidence in one's recovery.
If a loved one relapses, it's understandable for the family to feel frustrated or discouraged. However, responding to this situation with obvious disappointment is only regressive. Hence, the best way for families to approach relapse is with understanding. Once family members express reassurance in their support for addiction recovery, their loved one will likely get motivated to return to treatment.
When necessary, families may also seek counseling and therapy. Doing so enforces a healthier approach to support by acknowledging the need to prioritize one's own well-being.
Sahwan International Rehab Centre delivers up-to-date and impactful treatment methods. How we approach addiction recovery is shaped by specialists determined to play a crucial part in your loved one's sobriety story.
As part of Phufa Enterprise Pty Ltd, our addiction intervention program is proud to highlight our 98% completion rate from over 1,000 clients. This rate proves your loved one has the best chance of sobriety when you entrust their recovery to our committed team.
Apart from our experience, our location also promotes recovery, which feels like a relaxing retreat. For foreign clients, it will be interesting to know that Thailand is renowned for being a destination for healing. Coupling this with our world-renowned Thai hospitality, Sahwan Rehab represents world-class addiction treatment.
Our facility is located in Hua Hin—a coastal town that's a drive away from Bangkok. Hence, we are away from possible triggers as we immerse our clients in the natural beauty of the Gulf of Thailand. We've also equipped our facility with state-of-the-art amenities. That makes our space conducive for recreational activities like golfing, fitness activities, and pool swimming.
For a more holistic treatment, we also offer aftercare benefits that extend to one-year post-rehab. That includes monthly checking after the 1st month and a 1-year guarantee after 4 months.
All these services are designed to empower your loved one on their journey to long-term sobriety. As your family comes to understand how healing is a shared process, Sahwan Rehab offers the ideal place for recovery, blending your support with professional addiction treatment.
Your loved one shouldn't feel alone in their pursuit of a drug-free life! Let our professional treatment and your empathic support pave the way to healing. By encouraging your loved one to seek professional treatment, you're giving them their best chance at a healthier future.
If your loved one is ready, have them reach out to us so we'll know how we can help them break free from substance abuse. Together, our efforts can lead to true transformation that allows addicts to rebuild their lives.