Struggling with addiction can be extremely tough, even when you’re just witnessing everything unfold from an outsider’s point of view. The process of struggling with crippling, uncontrollable can prove to be an entirely different battle in itself, which makes it more important to be careful when dealing with an addict.
Communicating with an addict tends to be a two-way street, where interaction is the essence of it all. Making any changes, however slight, can help them cope with their problems or make things worse. However, as challenging as it may be, communicating with someone struggling with addiction is an easier way to let them know that you care, whether they’re a close friend or a relative.
Whether you’re trying to cement the fact that you’ll be there for someone with an addiction, or you’re trying to show them that you’re dedicated to being part of their recovery, it’s important to communicate with them properly.
How to communicate with someone struggling with addiction
To ensure that you get your message across safely while building a strong bond with them, here are some important tips to keep in mind when communicating with someone that has an addiction:
- Always show kindness in your tone and behaviour
A person with an addiction tends to be hypersensitive and can take your actions to heart, so it’s especially important to be kind and compassionate when communicating with them. There may be no particular “secret” to communicating with an addict, but being kind to them will definitely go a long way. In an era where there’s still so much stigma attached to being an addict, it’s best to show acceptance and kindness to foster an environment for recovery.
- Listen with open ears
When you communicate with someone that’s dealing with an addiction, it’s important to listen to them before saying or suggesting anything because they’re most likely to confide in you when they have a lot of things they need to say. Regardless of whether you accept their behaviour or not, it’s important to understand that people are addicted for a reason, and you need to treat them with extra care and consideration when communicating with them.
- Stay consistent
Communicating with someone that’s struggling with addiction also means you have to be consistent in your words and actions, especially when they need an example to follow. If the person you’re communicating with is an addict, make sure that you don’t do anything related to that addiction in order to be a good example to them.
- Help them
One of the most important things that you can do for someone that’s struggling with an addiction is to support their process of change, especially when they see the steps you’re taking to help them on the road to recovery. By finding out where you can get help for them, you’ll also be able to show them how much you care and give them the opportunity to get back on their feet. That’s a key step that can go a long way towards helping someone recover completely.
If you’re looking for a rehab facility to treat your addiction, Addiction Resource is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.