Addiction is an illness that affects many individuals across the country. However, a large majority of these never get the help required to overcome this illness as they do not know where to turn to for advice. The individual will continue with his or her destructive behaviour because he or she does not have any idea of who to speak to regarding available options.

Here at Addiction Helper, we understand that addiction is a devastating illness that requires help. As such, we have a team of professional staff working around the clock to ensure that as many people as possible get the help they need.

Our team of counsellors and therapists are available to take calls from those struggling with addiction as well as family members or friends concerned about a loved one’s addictive behaviour. By calling Addiction Helper, you can access up-to-date information and advice regarding the treatments available for the addiction in question.

As part of our service, we offer free, comprehensive assessments so that addicted individuals and their family members can get a better idea of what it is they are dealing with. With the results of this assessment in hand, our staff can then advise on the most suitable treatment provider based on needs and circumstances. We will do our best to provide more than one option for treatment and will offer advice so that an affected individual can make an informed decision regarding his or her care.

Our staff are compassionate and caring and anything they are told will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. Whether it is just a listening ear or advice on how to move forward, contact Addiction Helper today.

What Is Addiction?

As you are probably aware, addiction is a destructive illness that affects the lives of many people. It is an illness that changes the way the brain functions and causes those affected to act in an uncharacteristic manner.

Family members often described their addicted loved ones as having changed completely. They say that these persons have become unrecognisable because of their illness, and they often struggle to cope as a result.

Addiction is a progressive illness that will continue to get worse if it is left untreated. The longer a person struggles with addiction without getting help, the harder he or she will find it to overcome the problem. That said, addiction is a treatable illness. It requires hard work and commitment, but it is possible for those with addiction to get better and to rebuild their lives with their loved ones. Provided, of course, that they get the right help and advice.

Making a Change

For most addicts, admitting that addiction is a problem is the first step on the road to recovery. This can be very difficult to do as many of those suffering from addiction spend a lot of time in denial. For them, it is easier to pretend that they do not have a problem than to admit it and ask for help. Some prefer to blame others or their situation, and they will tell anyone who will listen that they drink or take drugs because of events beyond their control.

The first step in recovery is recognising that addiction exists. Family members often find this difficult. They can see that their loved one needs help, but they struggle to get him or her to see it. Without having any previous experience of addiction, it can be difficult to know how to handle this situation.

Addiction Helper is on hand to offer advice to family members in terms of dealing with a loved one’s illness. We know how frustrating it is to watch a loved one struggling with an obvious problem that he or she is unable, or unwilling, to accept.

Interventions

In many cases, we would advise family members to try an intervention. As you probably already know, it is impossible to force someone to get help if this person is not ready, but interventions are hugely successful when it comes to encouraging those affected by addiction to not only recognise the problem but to also accept that they need to make a change.

If you are a concerned loved one, we would recommend that you let your affected family member know that you are considering arranging an intervention. Explain that the reason you are exploring this avenue is that you love and care for him or her. By letting this person know that you are serious about his or her problem, you may begin to plant the seeds that will eventually make him or her more open to the idea of recovery when the intervention takes place.

An intervention is a process whereby a group of individuals who care about the wellbeing of the addicted person come together to talk about how the addiction is negatively affecting their lives. The idea is to make the person with the addiction see the pain and struggles faced by the people they love because of their actions. An intervention should not be used to attack the addicted person.

If you are interested in holding an intervention to help a loved one, we can offer advice on the process. Alternatively, we can put you in touch with a professional counsellor with experience in facilitating interventions. We believe that, in some instances, it may be better to hand the process over to a fully qualified and experienced counsellor, especially if your addicted loved one has a history of violent or aggressive behaviour. Nevertheless, if you believe that you have a strong family unit and your loved one has never shown any signs of aggression or violence, you can take care of the intervention yourself.

Call Addiction Helper today for advice on addiction for yourself or a loved one. Our team is on standby waiting to take your call.