Trying to make someone do what they don’t want to do is never easy. When it comes to addiction, it is always best if your loved one agrees that they need to seek treatment. Unfortunately, this is often one of the biggest hurdles that families face when they are trying to convince their loved one to stop using drugs or alcohol. The answer to why your loved one refuses to go to rehab can get complicated since everyone’s view about treatment is different. With that in mind, there are still some common reasons for people’s refusal to seek help, and learning about them can help you narrow down what your loved one needs to feel comfortable with agreeing to go to drug rehab.
The first thing you’ll want to remember is that drugs and alcohol can cloud your loved one’s mind. If they are under the influence of substances during the majority of the day, then they might not be able to listen to your reasoning with a clear head. The same is also true if they are dealing with a hangover or withdrawal symptoms. It is simply hard to focus when someone doesn’t feel well. Your loved one may also refuse treatment for these reasons that you’ll want to address.
•They are afraid they’re beyond help.
•They are nervous about staying in a strange, new place.
•They don’t want to have to follow strict rules.
•They are scared of failure.
•They don’t think they can take time off from work or other responsibilities.
•They simply don’t feel like anything is wrong with their lifestyle.
Get to the Heart of Why Your Loved One Is Avoiding Rehab
You can sometimes identify why your loved one is refusing help by thinking about their personality, current lifestyle and beliefs about mental health care. For example, your loved one might be refusing to seek help because they have a strong, independent personality. Helping them to see how getting sober will make it easier for them to accomplish their goals might be the best angle to take with this type of person.
Other people may simply be anxious about what life in drug and alcohol treatment will feel like. For them, it might be helpful to take a virtual tour of a treatment center or look at a sample schedule so that they can see what happens from day to day. People with social anxiety may prefer a treatment center that offers private or semi-private rooms that give them a place of refuge to relax in after group therapy sessions.
In some cases, your loved one’s refusal may be focused on practical excuses that you can address together. The majority of employers must treat addiction treatment with a compassionate approach that includes making accommodations for taking time off to get sober. A parent of a young child might need to know that someone can take over their parenting duties temporarily, or your senior parent might need to hear that you’ll look after their pet.
There is always the possibility that your loved one hasn’t felt the repercussions of their addiction enough that they are willing to seek help. Hosting an intervention is always an option that gives you and the other people in your loved one’s life a chance to share how their addiction is affecting everyone else. Planning an intervention takes time, and it is important to make sure that things don’t get out of control. However, doing it right will leave your loved one with a clear impression of how their behavior is affecting everyone else along with the boundaries that you have to put in place if they won’t go to treatment.
While talking someone into going to rehab takes time and can be quite difficult, the effort is worth it. Try to remember to avoid accusatory language, and make sure that every word you say is coming straight from the heart. A compassionate approach tends to work better than throwing out harsh threats. Finally, you’ll want to make sure you are prepared to help your loved one get into treatment the moment that they accept the need. Someone who has been refusing to go to treatment could change their mind quickly if you wait too long. Make sure to have a rehab in mind that you can refer them to immediately when you get a positive response.
Finding the right rehab might be all it takes to get your loved one to change their mind. Are you looking for a rehab that will suit your loved one’s preferences? If so, give us a call today at 833-610-1174 to find the ideal treatment center.