Getting someone with
addiction to go to rehab can be difficult, but it is important to act quickly
once you have decided to confront your loved one about their alcohol or drug
use. Whether you are looking for rehab in Costa
Mesa or otherwise, here are a few tips to talk to your loved one
about rehab:
●Don’t
wait for rock bottom. It’s a common misconception that addicts need
to hit rock bottom in order to get and stay clean and sober. But don’t wait
until your loved one has destroyed their life before intervening. If you think
that your loved one might have a serious problem with alcohol or drugs, it’s
much better to intervene sooner rather than later. Addiction is a deadly
disease and your loved one could die while you wait for a rock bottom that
might never happen.
●Plan
an intervention. If your loved one is in denial about their
addiction, you might need to plan an intervention. We recommend consulting an
intervention expert or a rehab before planning your intervention in order to
ensure that it is as successful as possible. We also suggest coordinating with
a rehab to make sure that your loved one has a spot in a treatment program and
that they either have insurance or the financial means to pay for the cost of
care. You should also pack a bag for your loved one and be prepared to drive
them to the facility, so that they can start the detox process immediately
after the intervention.
●Use
I statements. Addiction is a mental illness, and much like
other mental illnesses, like depression, people who have addiction often don’t
realize that they have it. You should keep this in mind when talking to them
about their alcohol or drug use. In order to avoid escalating the conversation
into an argument, we recommend using I statements. Rather than saying, “You are
ruining your life,” say something like, “I want to help, but I don’t know how.”
Using I statements will help prevent your loved one from becoming defensive.
●Admit
that you don’t know everything. It is crucial to admit
that you do not know everything about addiction. When someone with addiction is
being confronted about their problem, their immediate response might be to deny
and defend. They might say that you don’t know what you’re talking about or
that you are simply overreacting. In order to minimize this type of response,
we recommend conceding that it is possible that your assumptions are wrong.
Instead, focus on your own feelings around the situation and your concern for
your loved one.
●Ask
your loved one to make going to rehab their gift to you. It
might help to tell your loved one that the greatest gift they could give you is
to go to rehab, especially if a gift-giving holiday or birthday is coming up.
Even if they initially enter treatment out of obligation, they might become
more receptive to the idea once they begin seeing a counselor or attending
12-step meetings. They might begin to see that their alcohol or drug use is
causing issues in their lives and relationships.
