There are too many people who are living with an addiction. In the process, those who are addicted can hurt the people around them as well. If you have a loved one who is an addict, you might be wondering what you can do to help them. Here are some things that you should know about supporting them through their recovery.

1. Don't Take It Personally

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they think they played a role in the addiction, and if the person loved them enough, they would stop. It is not that simple. Yes, you can contribute to an addiction in the beginning, and yes you can make it worse, but that does not mean that you caused it. You may have exacerbated it, but you didn't cause it. Additionally, love rarely ever pulls someone out of an addiction. If your loved one is struggling and continues to have problems, it is not because they don't love you; it is because they are addicted, and they are like a machine trained to use. You can support your loved one, but you cannot change them or be responsible for their bad behavior.

2. You Can Support Them

Support is vital when it comes to overcoming an addiction. Your loved one needs to know that you are supporting them and that you can help them to have the tools that they need to get better. But that is about as far as you can go. You can give them tools and make an environment that is ideal for recovery, but when it comes to actually making progress in their recovery, it has to be their choice.

3. Real Change Comes From The Person

People who are forced to go through an addiction recovery program generally don't do as well as someone who is there for themselves. If your loved one chooses to be at recovery meetings and is going to therapy because they want to be clean, they are much more likely to succeed than if you are making them go. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't intervene with a teenager or young child. But know, especially for adults, they should be motivated to be there. This can be heartbreaking if your loved one doesn't want recovery, but if they do, they can find healing.

These are just a couple things you need to know about helping your loved one through their addiction. Contact a counseling center like Center For Family Guidance for additional advice.