A number of people don't bother trying to help their loved ones who are addicted to drugs because they believe that once the addict hits rock bottom [they've lost everything because of the addiction] they'll realize that the drugs aren't that good for them and would be forced to stop using drugs. Sure there are some people who will not be willing to lose any more than they've lost but there are some who by the time they hit rock bottom will have lost so much that they'll completely lose hope and will never for that reason stop using drugs. Since you can't know what will happen it would be advisable to offer help and support before the addict hits rock bottom and hope for the best. Don't wait. Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. ~ Timothy Ferriss,
It is definitely a better idea to offer help early on but if the person isn't willing to accept the help then there isn't much you can do. I wish my spouse has turned him life around before it came to his failing health but no matter how much I supported him and sought out help for him he didn't want to accept it. In his mind he didn't have a problem until the doctor gave him a very serious talk and told him what he was doing to his health and what was going to happen to him if he didn't make some serious changes. I wish it hadn't come to this but he wanted nothing to do with my support and help.
That is so true. In the past I have found that regardless how early the addiction is noticed and acknowledged, sometimes it is too late anyway. If someone does not truly want help, they aren't going to respond to any attempts.
No matter how light or serious someone's addiction is, as soon as you have noticed your loved one going through some addiction issues, you should already act right away, and try to help that person in the best way you can. Don't just sit there, and wait. Try to do something if you can.
If you have a loved one that has any kind of addiction. You need to seek help for them right away, before it's too late. I went through it with my mom and now it has been almost 5 years since she's been gone. She will never know her grandchildren. My advice is to get them some kind of help whether they want it or not. Turn them into a place to come clean. Before it's too late.
I agree with intervening early. The earlier the better. I wish someone would have said something to me prior to me popping pills daily. I wish someone could have told me that this is how it all begins, but no one did. People were too afraid to intervene with my life choices. I wish they weren't. I might have listened or thought about the course of my actions.
I think addicts don't usually think there is a problem when they get started, at that point it is still fun and they have yet to suffer any real problems or consequences. A lot of times friends and family won't want to intervene at this point either, either because they don't want to seem pushy or nosey or because they are just hoping the problem will go away on its own. But if you notice someone having a problem it is never too early to bring it up! You will only regret it if you say nothing and the situation spirals out of control, at least if you try to talk to the person you will have peace of mind knowing you tried to help.
I agree that you shouldn't wait too long before intervening an addiction. There IS a point of no return when involved with drugs. Their body becomes dependent on them. Trying to help as soon as you see addiction is the best option.
True that not all people are the same and we react differently on situations or things in general. Hitting rock bottom approach could work for some but not for everyone that some even ended in suicide. Intervention is best to come at the start or very moment that the person was discovered being on drugs.
I must say from experience with my papaw being an alcoholic, sometimes our loved ones are too far gone to receive help/agree to get help. We tried everything to get him help. He went to a rehab facility for a weekend, but sadly, due to the fact that we had no where for him to stay, he had to go back into the environment he was in before, and fell right back into old habits. Sometimes its harder for people to get help when their forced to live in a certain environment. If they are a recovering addict and they go around people who are doing bad things, they will sometimes pick it right back up. My papaw was so addicted to alcohol, it became a disease, not an addiction. He would get horribly sick if he didn't have a beer. He got so wrapped up in his alcohol, he let all of his health issues go, leading to an infection, that later caused his death. It was a horrible, sad situation. There wasn't much as a family we could do for him.
PLEASE HELP EARLY ON! As soon as you notice its a problem, act on it! My Papaw's alcohol addiction led to alcohol "deasease" as I called it, because he would literally go thru withdrawls after one day of not having a beer. He would sweat, he would vomit, he would urinate on himself, get dizzy, etc.. His body depended on beer because that's all he ever drank! It was horrible. because of his alcohol addiction he didn't realize he was badly sick and it later caused his death. Had he been sober, he may have noticed symptoms early on. Just never let it get to far. When you notice a problem, work on fixing it immediately!
I understand exactly what you mean. This is another way of saying prevention is better than cure. Why help tomorrow where everything might be too late when you can make a difference in someone's life as early as today?
We should always try to help our loved ones, the moment we notice that they have problems (any problems, not just addiction). We shouldn't wait at all because every minute of their life is precious so we have to encourage them to start living a healthy life and assure them that we'll be there, by their side, every morning and night to help them fight it through. Their addiction is our pain, it's something I'm inclined to think. So don't let them be hurt and hurt you as well.