Dealing with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol is challenging. Being on the outside, you can see how much of a toll their addiction is taking on their health and their life. You have their best interest in mind when you ask them to go to a treatment center, but they may not view it that way.
If you are wondering: how can I convince my loved one to go to new jersey treatment centers if they don’t think they have a problem, read on for some tips.
Remain Empathetic
After having to deal with a loved one’s addiction, you may feel incredibly frustrated, angry and stressed out. The last thing you want is to express sympathy or empathy. If fact, if given the option, you would probably drag them kicking and screaming to the nearest treatment facility.
Unfortunately, that’s not going to help anyone.
If your loved one feels like you are forcing them to do something they don’t want to do, they will resist. Addiction isn’t logical. You can plead and beg as much as you want, but all your loved one can focus on is getting their next fix. Their brain is being controlled by the substance they are addicted to.
When it comes to showing empathy, you want to find a way to convince your loved one that they have a problem and need help. This isn’t about you, so try to keep the focus on them. This is accomplished by avoiding criticism and demonstrating concern.
If you find that you can’t have a conversation with your loved one without it turning in an argument, you have to be able to walk away and approach it when you can keep your emotions under control. It’s also helpful if you refrain from being accusatory when talking to your loved one.
Make Them Take Ownership
Addicts often blame their issues on outside forces—and they may be validated and encouraged to do this by others. Oftentimes, families will be blamed for the reason a person is addicted to a substance. Or it will be their ex-bosses fault for firing them or the girl or boy who broke up with them.
While these incidents may have exacerbated their addiction, they are not the cause of it. The addict is the cause. They make the choice to continue to use.
Being able to make them see that they are the only ones who can change their life could be enough to encourage them to go to a treatment center. They have to take responsibility and ownership of their actions before they can be convinced to change them.
Let Them Know What They Are Getting Into
One of the reasons your loved one might be resistant to going to a treatment center is because they don’t know what to expect. The unknown can be scary. Thus, you might consider taking the time to research the facility you want to send them to so that they know what will happen once they get there.
They may still be resistant to going, but you will at least give them information so that they can make a more informed decision. Remember, you can’t force them to go, but you can reduce fears by letting them know what to expect from treatment.
Get Some Help
It may feel like you are going through this process alone, but you aren’t. If you are concerned about your loved one, it’s possible that others are as well. By working together, you may be able to convince your loved one that they need to go to a treatment center for their health and wellbeing.
Again, make sure you aren’t being judgmental or pushy. This will make it much harder to convince your loved one that they need help. You also need to make sure getting treatment is for them, not to benefit you and the others.
You might also consider learning as much as you can about addiction. People become addicted to various substances for a wide range of reasons. If you understand the addiction process and why your loved one might be using, this could give you the insight to convince them that they need help. It could also help you be more empathetic to why they use.
Stay Persistent
Dealing with a loved one who is an addict can be incredibly hard. You want what’s best for them, so you want them to go to a treatment center to get help. It can be hard to convince your loved one to go. However, by remaining persistent, they may eventually take your advice.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. We can help. Give us a call at 833-610-1174.