Caregiver Tip #10: Four Tips for Caregiving Those with Addiction
“Caregiving is hard, and it can be lonely. I'm here to share four quick but not necessarily easy tips for caregivers today.
1. Educate yourself about the disease of addiction; knowledge is power, and it will help you understand your loved one better and yourself too. There are so many great resources for this. https://www.samhsa.gov/ is a good place to start. 2. Get support - while your family members and friends care about you, they may not understand the disease of addiction, and sometimes you may feel alone even when you're around them. It can be truly life-changing as a caregiver to find fellowship with others who have walked a similar road. You are not alone. Support groups such as https://naplesal-anon.org/meetingmain are good for individuals who love someone with a substance abuse disorder. They are available in most cities and online for free. It can also be a tremendous help for you to talk to a counselor or therapist. They are trained in helping and supporting not just the individual with the substance abuse disorder but caregivers too. 3. Have realistic expectations. When a loved one is deep in addiction, it can be hard for them to truly hear what we are saying. So, lectures or advice often go unheard and fall on deaf ears; it can be hard for them to keep promises or commitments when in their disease behaviors. Reacting with anger or pity often creates a barrier between you and your loved one. 4. Take care of yourself. Place the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping your loved one. The most important thing you can do to help your loved one is to be as healthy as you can be. Taking care of yourself by getting proper rest, good nutrition, exercise, and support will ultimately help you help your loved one. Remember, caregivers, you are not alone, and we are here to help.” #mentalhealthtips #substanceabuse
