One of the hardest things in the world is to see a close friend or a loved one go through addiction.
Getting out of addiction is no easy task, and it can be absolutely heart-wrenching to see someone you love continually tear themselves down with drug addiction.
You want to do something, but you don’t want to step on their toes and talk to them in a way that’ll close them off for good. Knowing how to talk to an addict just isn’t that simple.
In this article, we’ll go over a few things that you need to keep in mind when you’re talking to an addict.
Find a Time to Be Alone Together
First things first: when you talk to them, you should control the environment.
You want to make sure that both of you are alone together. The last thing you want to is to call them out publicly, as that will just make them draw further into their shell.
Also ensure that it’s a more relaxed, stress-free environment that will enable them to open up to you.
Don’t Be Confrontational
The next thing to keep in mind is that you cannot be confrontational during the conversation.
You have to approach the conversation with the perspective that you are both on the same team, helping this person succeed in life. If you just start criticizing his or her behaviors, there’s no way they’re going to want to listen to you for any period of time.
Make sure you deeply ingrain that mindset into yourself before you set out trying to have a conversation about the addiction.
Focus on the Value of Giving Up the Addiction
When you have the conversation, instead of being confrontational and focusing on the negatives of their addiction, focus on the positives of what their life would look like if they were to give up their addiction.
People always react better to positive reinforcement; negative thoughts are not nearly as effective.
Talk about how they could get a job and support themselves if they were drug-free. Build up the image of the person they want to be in their mind and convince them that they have to give up the drug to make that happen.
Bring Up Rehab
Last but certainly not least, you should bring up rehab.
If the addiction is severe enough, then it will need time in a specialized facility in order for the person to be able to escape their addiction for good.
Before you bring it up, make sure you do your research on the best rehab treatment centers so that you can have an intelligent conversation where you can present some options for them to consider.
Know How to Talk to an Addict
Knowing how to talk to an addict will help you immensely when you have that all-important conversation with your friend or loved one.
We wish you the best.
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