We Arent Choosing Drugs Over You
If youve never personally struggled with addiction, its easy to feel like were choosing drugs over our loved ones. We need you to know thats not the case.
Addiction has a real impact on the brain. Neurochemicals and receptors are physically altered, causing an insatiable need for more drugs. We dont consciously choose drugs over our loved ones were shackled to a beast that is relentless.
What Is Video Game Addiction
Video game addiction may sound like a joking matter, but it can have the same negative effects on your family, work and relationships as any other kind of addiction. Fortunately, there are solutions to video game addictions if you decide to take your life back.
However, for these solutions to take effect you must take full ownership of the problem and understand that only you can end your addiction to video games.
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What If The Person Doesnt Want Help For Drugs Or Alcohol
Ultimately, its the persons decision whether to seek professional help. Many people who misuse drugs or alcohol find it hard to ask for help at first, but may want to reach out later on. Be careful not to nag the person, since this might discourage them from opening up in the future.
Clearly state any behaviours you expect, or wont tolerate, from the person. You might not accept drug use in your home, for example.
Encourage the person to use safely to minimise the risk of harming themselves for example, through needle and syringe programs or opioid replacement programs.
Find an NSP in your state or territory here. You can also use the healthdirect Service Finder to find one near you. Select By name and type needle into the search bar.
Its important to know that you cant force the person to stop using drugs or alcohol. Only they can choose to change.
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Tip #: Have Realistic Expectations
Dont preach or lecture to the addict. They are usually unable to hear what you are saying. Continue to hold them accountable to expectations and offer help to direct them to the treatment they need. Dont expect addicts to keep promises, they are not able to do so while in the process of their disease. Dont react with pity or anger. This only keeps you in the process with the addict.
If your loved one is ready to get help, visit our Alcohol and Drug Treatment page to find out more about getting a referral and assessment.You can also contact Legal Aid programs in your area to see if you qualify for those services or they may be able to direct you to someone who can assist you.
Tip #: Seek Specialty Help
If you need assistance with financial issues or legal issues it may be helpful to talk to attorney providers that are covered. There are organizations that provide services on a sliding scale fee and you can often find those by calling your local Mental Health Agency or United Way. Local churches may also provide some low or no cost counseling.
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Take Our Substance Abuse Self
Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
Convincing The Broken Brain
Now that the problem has been identified, change can begin.
Because the person with SUD has a neurobiological illness, they will have great difficulty seeing themselves with clarity. This is why so many people report feeling incredibly frustrated and/or giving up on the person with SUD. Its so tricky to convince the broken brain that the problem is coming from SUD and not external circumstances.
This is where you come in.
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How To Talk To And Help Someone With Addiction
May 28, 2021
It is normal to be unsure of what to say and what to expect when talking to a loved one who is suffering from an addiction. Even if you are not comfortable talking about it, you should do so as soon as possible in order to help them. Problem use can trigger anxiety or depression, impair the proper functioning of organs such as the liver and kidneys, and can lead to serious and possibly fatal health problems. Fortunately, this disease can be effectively controlled with your support and evidence-based treatment tailored to the needs of the person suffering from addiction.
How To Talk To An Alcoholic: Reaching Out Connecting And Offering Help
This article will help you understand alcohol use disorders, how to approach someone you think may have a drinking problem, how to offer them assistance, and how to take care of yourself during this process.
Remember: it may take more than one conversation with a person who has an alcohol use disorder to encourage them to seek help. However, by showing your support and concern, you may be able to help them to see they have a problem with alcohol and would benefit from addiction treatment.
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Im Willing To Support Your Recovery
While its important to express your love, its equally important to let him know that you do not condone or support his addiction. By drawing a proverbial line in the sand, it clearly indicates youre not an enabler.
It also says you love him enough to stand by him on the road to recovery and that kind of support can make a world of difference.
Shift Your Own Perspective Of Addiction
Its easy to be misled. The person with SUD is often convinced that their addictive behaviours are caused by their life circumstances. So, the first thing that needs to happen in order to speak effectively to the person with SUD is for you to shift your perspective.
Look back over the persons life and youll see a pattern emerge of substance use in response to lifes challenges. Its a profound and empowering shift in awareness when youre able to see that the problems are actually coming from the person themself. You may recognize that they are no longer a victim, unlucky or powerless.
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How Can You Help A Loved One Get The Help They Need
Mention the word treatment in relation to substance use and many people think of long-term residential facilities or detox. In fact, treatment includes both of these options and a variety of others.
Treatment addresses the individuals physical, psychological, emotional, and social conditions. Sustained reduction in alcohol or other drug use and sustained increases in personal health and social function are the primary goals.
The type of treatment is based on the severity of the problem. For risky people with an active addiction, treatment can be as simple as a screening and a brief intervention. For people exhibiting signs of dependence or addiction, a screening will probably lead to a referral for more intense level of care.
All treatment starts with a screening, which is a series of questions about the amount and frequency of alcohol or other drug use and the consequences it may be causing. Screening can be done by many types of professionals, including a physician in a hospital or an office, a nurse, a clinical social worker, or a licensed substance abuse counselor.
To help someone you know who you think may have a substance use problem, you first need to get them screened. Your best bet is to talk to your own physician or employee assistance professional about referring you to someone who can help, such as a licensed substance abuse counselor or family therapist.
To find a treatment program, visit SAMHSAs Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
What Is Drug Or Alcohol Misuse
Drugs are substances that affect how the body functions. Illegal drugs such as ecstasy and heroin can be harmful and unpredictable. Unlike prescription medicines, there is no government organisation that regulates the quality or amount of active ingredients in illegal substances.
However, not all drugs are illegal. Alcohol is a legal drug that can be harmful if taken in large amounts or for a long time. Medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor can also be harmful if they arent taken as directed or are taken for non-medical reasons.
Drug and alcohol misuse isnt necessarily related to how often or in what quantity a person uses drugs, but the impact their drug use has on their life. Drug or alcohol use can become a problem when it starts to affect a persons judgement, relationships or general health and wellbeing. It can cause them to neglect other responsibilities such as school, work or family.
Drug and alcohol misuse is common. About 1 in 3 people in Australia drink alcohol at risky levels. Two in every 5 people in Australia have used an illegal drug at some point in their lives, including taking pharmaceutical medicines for non-medical purposes.
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Howto Prevent Addiction To Video Games
To prevent isdifferent from seeking a solution. You seek a solution to a problem that is areality already. But to prevent means to take proactive steps to ensure that the problemdoes not occur at all.
There arepreventive measures to video game addiction. Actually, it is a two-stepprocessDEFINITION AND SUPERVISION
DEFINITION
When God gives youchildren, as long as they are babies, He confers the power of decision to youas parents. But when that child grows into an adult, you no longer have thatpower. This is why the best time to exercise authority over them is as long asthey are children. What you do with them as children today will determine whatthey will become as adults tomorrow. We already know that a childs basiccharacter is moulded by the age of seven.
The best everyParents can do for their children in the childhood stage of life is to definepriorities based on values and virtues for them. Priorities such as praying,going to church, studying Gods word, education, respect, honesty and pursuingoneâs dreams are primary. Let games and cartoons be secondary. This will helpprevent addiction to video games.
SUPERVISION
Many parents have a great outline of virtue-driven and value-driven priorities for their children, yetnothing significant is changing and they wonder why. Well, plans alone cant dothe magic if not monitored. Even adults are mischievous concerning instructions, talk more of children. Theyhave to be seriously watched over and observed closely.
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How To Live With An Alcoholic
Many families deal with the struggles of living with someone who excessively abuses alcohol or has an AUD. If you are currently living with someone with an AUD, there are ways to cope and treatment options for you and your loved one.
People who know how to live with an alcoholic may have feelings of self-blame. It is important to remind yourself that the alcoholic is responsible for how he or she handles emotions and recovery from a drinking problem. There could be many contributing factors to why people suffer from AUDs, but to blame yourself will not help the current circumstance.
Someone living with an alcoholic may also try to control their loved ones drinking, or enable them. The behavior of alcoholics while or after drinking may be very frustrating, but instead of monitoring their drinking behavior, attempting to remove their alcohol, forbidding them from drinking, or begging them to stop drinking, its best to just release control over their alcohol use. You did your part in trying to get them to ask for help, now its time for them to be willing to accept your help.
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Dont: Expect Immediate Change
How do you help an alcoholic? One of the best ways is to be realistic in your expectations. Long-term Recovery is not a quick fix. Its an ongoing process for your loved one that takes time, effort and continued support from professionals and family alike. Some treatments may work for some time and then need to be changed.
If one treatment doesnt work, it doesnt mean all treatments will fail. It just means youll have to find the specific one that will work for your loved one.
Residential Inpatient Gaming Addiction Treatment Centers
Inpatient treatment for addicted gamers is best for those who need to leave their environment altogether for a time in order to heal. Such treatment centers offer group therapy, individual counseling and a game-free atmosphere.
Some inpatient facilities offer private rooms, while some offer dorm-like accommodations. All these programs are designed to make the patient feel safe, comfortable and supported as they embark on a healing journey.
Once an addict has allowed their life opportunities to diminish by withdrawing entirely into the addiction, they have few options for overcoming the dependency on their own. This is where inpatient treatment facilities are a tremendous help. They help patients relearn healthy coping skills in a contained environment.
For help in selecting a treatment center, call . We are available 24/7 to help you find the facility you need.
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Realize You Might Not Get Through To Them Right Away
Realizing and accepting that there is a problem can take time. This can be an extremely difficult process. Even if you are not able to get someone to admit they have a problem right away know that you have at least planted the seed for them to realize what is going on. There may even be a good chance that on some level the person already knows they have a problem but are not yet willing to admit to it to others.
How To Talk To Someone About Substance Use
Before talking to loved ones about your concerns, understand that they may not be ready to hear what you have to say they might deny that there is an issue they might find it difficult to accept your help. The best thing you can do in these situations is listen asking guiding questions to keep the conversation going when necessary, but also really allowing your loved ones to talk about whats going on in their lives. Opening up the channels of communication may help your loved ones feel less alone and start working toward acknowledging that they have a problem.
Here are some ways you can gently start a conversation with someone youre concerned about, focusing on your own observations:
- I wanted to check in with you because you havent seemed yourself lately.
- Ive noticed youve been acting differently lately, and Im wondering how youre doing.
- Ive been worried about you lately.
- Ive noticed youve been drinking a lot lately, and Im wondering how youre doing.
- Ive noticed youve been using , and Im worried about you.
Once youve started the conversation, you can begin to ask questions such as these:
- When did you first start feeling like this?
- Do you feel like youre trying to escape or forget something?
- Do you feel like your drug use/drinking is a problem?
- Do you think you could go 24 hours without using drugs/drinking? A week?
- What can I do to best support you right now?
- Have you thought about getting help?
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Supporting A Person In Recovery
Following treatment, your loved one will have to reintegrate into their environment. The person in recovery needs to change certain aspects of their life to avoid relapse. Returning to an identical environment may provoke the same emotions or situations that initially triggered the cycle of addiction, so it is helpful to create a new routine with them. You can do this by:
- Helping them find new passions and activities to stay busy.
- Offering to arrange your weekly schedules together to ensure you have time to attend each others support group meetings
- Making sure there is no alcohol or drugs in the house so as not to present any temptation.
Keep in mind that you do not have the power to cure a substance use disorder for your loved one. You can, however, support them through all the stages of recovery. Talk to your loved one as soon as possible before their condition has a serious impact on their health.
My Anger Is Directed Toward The Disease
Theres a huge difference between anger thats directed toward your loved one and anger thats directed toward her disease. Once you can separate the two, it makes an impact. The person you love is still in there shes just being stifled by drugs.
Its okay to be angry with the addictionyou can even hate the addictionbut dont let those feelings rob you of the love you have for her.
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Dos And Donts On How To Talk To Someone With An Addiction
1. Do your research so you can become more informed about their type of addiction.2. Do make it a two-way conversation by taking time to talk and listen.3. Do share signs you have noticed drinking or drug use has been affecting them.4. Do look for factors that may be worsening their substance use, such as mental health concerns.5. Do present treatment resources that you have researched and believe are strong options.
1. Dont attempt to be an expert in a conversation.2. Dont make the interaction an opportunity to criticize them for substance use.3. Dont assume someones addiction is like another persons you also know.4. Dont give a diagnosis or make predictions on what will happen to them because of drinking or drug use.5. Dont give ultimatums or deadlines about starting treatment.
