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5 Facts If a Family Member Is Trying to Quit Drugs or Alcohol

Facts If a Family Member Is Trying to Quit Drugs or AlcoholI pulled together this quick guide of key facts to help a family member who is trying to quit drugs or alcohol. Read on…

Addiction affects almost 10% of the adult population in the US. If you have a family member who is trying to quit drugs or alcohol, it’s a good idea to learn some key facts about addiction. 

You can then be in a better position to talk to your loved one about the problem and help him or her get appropriate treatment to quit for good. 

If you want to learn these key facts, I’m here to help.

As you might know, I am a bestselling author with about 2 million books sold globally.  Plus I founded a groundbreaking video course called The Anxiety Cure.

I love sharing insights and strategies to help people to overcome their challenges.

With this in mind I put together this quick guide to help family members quit drugs or alcohol.

1. Addiction Affects the Brain

Being dependent on drugs or alcohol can change the brain’s structure and function. 

The brain’s everyday desires are replaced by those of the substance someone is addicted to, which leads to compulsive behavior to fulfill the desire to take drugs or alcohol and a loss of control over substance use. 

2. Behavior Can Change

Because the brains of people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol change, it’s logical that their behavior can also change. 

Besides compulsive behavior, addicts can develop unpleasant and sometimes even dangerous physical symptoms when they decrease or stop using drugs or alcohol. For instance, they could become angry and sometimes violent towards themselves or others.  

That means it can be challenging to talk to a loved one who is trying to quit, but by remembering “it’s the drugs or alcohol talking,” you can avoid getting frustrated with the person and instead identify the best ways to talk to your family member about the problem. 

3. Various Things Can Cause Addiction

There are many different reasons why people become addicted to drugs or alcohol. 

By understanding your loved one’s reasons, and helping your loved one to understand the reasons too, you will be in a better position to help your family member get the support and treatment necessary to quit drugs or alcohol. 

Peer pressure is one reason why people start taking drugs or drinking excessive alcohol, as people like to fit in with their friends. But often, people become addicted to drugs or alcohol due to traumatic events in their lives, negative childhood experiences like physical abuse and neglect, or mental health issues. 

People who are highly stressed, perhaps because of a demanding job role or personal life, are also more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

4. Withdrawal Causes Physical Symptoms

When people decrease or stop using drugs or alcohol, they will experience a number of withdrawal symptoms, which is one reason why it can be so challenging for people to quit their addictions.  

Your family member could display withdrawal symptoms like irritability, restlessness, anxiety, paranoia, nausea, not being able to sleep, and sweating, to name just a few symptoms. Check out these insights on coping with substance withdrawal so that you can help your loved one through his or her attempt to quit. 

5. Various Treatments Are Available

The good news is there are various treatment options available to help people who are trying to quit drugs or alcohol. In combination with a supportive family, people who are addicted can potentially overcome their addictions and make a full recovery. 

Some types of treatments are better for certain people and the type of addiction they have than others, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. 

You should encourage your family member to consult a doctor to explore the different treatments that are available and find the right option. Sometimes, a combination of treatments may be required. 

Treatment options include:

  • Detoxing.
  • Residential treatment.
  • Partial hospital or outpatient treatment.
  • Counseling and therapy services. 
  • Joining a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. 

Final Thoughts

Helping a loved one to quit drugs or alcohol can be challenging and emotionally draining, so make sure you have support yourself. And if possible, get friends and other family members involved to provide additional support to the person trying to quit. 

As challenging as helping your loved one may sometimes feel, your family member will be going through a much more challenging time. 

With the right support, he or she can recover. And by understanding drug and alcohol addiction yourself, you will be in a better position to assist your family member in making a full recovery.

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