Addiction is a challenging disease to identify in others. While many may think it’s easy to see when someone is struggling with a substance use disorder (an addiction to drugs or alcohol), the reality is often very different. Individuals can become inadvertently addicted, as in the case of many prescription drug addictions. Often the individual themself will be unaware they’ve developed an addiction until they reach a point where they need professional support. If you’re searching to learn more about signs of addiction, you’re likely suspicious that someone you care about is abusing substances. It can be hard to stand by and watch someone you love fall into the downward spiral of addiction. At Santé Healing Center, we understand the burden placed on families struggling with substance addiction. We’re here to help by offering substance abuse treatment programs. Let’s take a look at the common signs of addiction and discuss ways to help the person you care about.
Signs of Addiction
While the symptoms of addiction will vary from individual to individual and substance to substance, there are some shared signs. Learning to recognize these signs in yourself or others is the first step in finding the necessary support to heal and recover. When a person becomes addicted to a substance, they often show behavioral changes that indicate a shift in focus in their life. Behavioral signs of addiction may include:
- Obsession- the person may struggle to accomplish anything that does not have to do with acquiring and using their substance of choice.
- Loss of control- the person may desperately want to stop using the substance but feel that stopping is impossible.
- Disregard for others- they may understand that they’re hurting you and other family members but not care or be able to stop their hurtful behavior.
- Denial- almost all addicts will deny that they have a problem when confronted
In addition to behavioral signs of addiction, people who are struggling with substance use may also show physical signs, including:
- Poor hygiene, including body odor due to lack of showering and clean clothes
- Dilated pupils
- Sudden change in weight
- Poor coordination and/ or balance
Of course, the signs of addiction can differ from person to person. A person’s health before addiction, their financial state, and whether they have access to health care can all play a role in how addiction will present.
I Think My Loved One Is An Addict- What Do I Do Now?
If your loved one is showing signs of addiction, it’s normal to want to fix the problem for them. Unfortunately, they have to do the work themselves. You can do things to make it easier for your loved ones to find their way to recovery. Building trust is one of the best ways to help someone struggling with substance abuse open up. When you show that they can trust you with small things, they may begin to feel that they can trust you with bigger things, such as confiding in you about their addiction. It’s also key to know that getting to the point of asking for help is a process. You can’t expect immediate change.
Criticizing or disrespecting your family members may feel like it could be an effective way to guilt them into treatment, but that approach rarely works. Showing love, respect, care, and genuine concern for their well-being goes a long way in helping your loved one understand that hope for a better life exists. At Santé Center for Healing, we believe in patience and compassion. These values are at the foundation of all our addiction programs, which include:
Call Santé Healing Center Today to Learn More
At Santé Healing Center, we offer many different therapies to help your loved one, including:
If your loved one is showing signs of addiction, we’re here to help. We appreciate the vital role that family support can play in treatment. It can be hard to talk to a family member about a potential addiction. But doing so could save their life. We offer family therapy as a part of our treatment process. While your loved one does need to choose to accept treatment, we’re here to help you understand what they’re going through. Call Santé Healing Center at 866.238.3154 to learn more about how we can support you and your family as you help your loved one recover.