Tips for living with someone addicted at home

After a long day at work or a stressful experience, returning to the family is a moment of happiness. Living with loved ones can be a source of immense strength when members come together to share sorrows and successes. However, the experience turns sour if any member is dealing with substance abuse. The usual course of life is interrupted as addiction places a financial, mental and emotional burden on everyone. Destroy peace and change family dynamics.

Here are some tips to help a family live with a person addicted to drugs or alcohol and stay sane:

• educate yourself – These days, there are many resources available online through which one can get a lot of information about substance abuse. Addiction is not a moral failure, but a disease of the brain. Educating yourself can help the family organize the appropriate intervention or resources to help the bereaved.
• Connection with support groups – Living with a person addicted to alcohol or drugs can be exhausting for the rest of the family members. The situation can be made worse by physical and verbal abuse. It is important to encourage the person suffering to connect with support groups and participate in their sessions regularly. These groups provide a platform to vent your feelings, better understand the issue, and feel positive. Hearing other people’s stories can be very encouraging. Support groups also host many family therapy sessions to bond, think beyond blame games and silences, and work to create a better home environment.
• eating together – In the fast-paced life, it is easier to have a snack at work or eat on the way back from work. But there must be at least one meal hour when all the members can sit together, pray and eat. Family time gives everyone a chance to talk about their day, share problems, and feel connected.
• taking care of yourself – Dealing with addiction at home can sometimes be overwhelming. Although family members try to understand the problem as much as possible, it is equally important for them to take care of their health. Loved ones should engage in therapeutic activities such as reading, painting, singing, attending concerts, gardening, playing with children, cooking, or doing charity work.
• exercise regularly – Any form of physical exercise is known to relieve stress levels. By participating in training sessions or joining a dance class, one can stay invigorated. The person suffering from addiction should be encouraged to take these sessions together to get the double effect of relaxing the mind and staying happy with the family.
• taking care of other things – Restricting the addicted person’s access to finances, removing triggers that increase addiction, seeking professional support, avoiding stress, and living life one day at a time are some of the other ways that can help a family cope. better an addiction

Professional support is needed

Sometimes, despite our best intentions and efforts, we fail to function as one family. In such circumstances, it is best to institute professional intervention and seek the help of experts. It is better to act before the problem gets out of control.