As much as we always want to see the best in our friends and family particularly, it’s essential that we always look for signs of trouble in their behaviors. Especially if we see them all the time at home, we may not notice subtle differences and changes in them over time, but they can still be indicators that something might be bothering them.
We have to look for addiction symptoms, signs of depression, and any poor financial choices that they may be making habitually. It’s vital to remain nonjudgmental during the observation stage, but if there’s some action that you can do to prevent negative consequences in the future, you should try. You could consider taking them to recovery centres like Sedona Addiction Treatment centre or similar, to show your support during their withdrawal journey. There are multiple addiction withdrawal programs available in such centres that can help individuals cope with their addiction habits in order to start their withdrawal journey using alternative mental health, holistic psychiatry, and holistic addiction treatment. Alternatively, you could introduce them to AA groups for support during their recovery. Or, get them counselling sessions maybe, if they are showing signs of depression or mental distress. Also confronting them about their problems, while remaining non-judgemental could help them realize their issues.
Addiction Symptoms
When friends and family are dealing with addiction, there are all sorts of reasons it could have started, and all sorts of reasons that it can continue. As a family member, in particular, you may have the power to at least indicate to this person that you see what’s going on and that you will support them in recovery. However, what you don’t want to do is continue doing things that might allow them unabated access to the core of their addiction.
Signs of Depression
When you see signs of depression in family members, it’s always better to act sooner than later. Make sure that this person knows they can come to you and talk. Put resources in front of them like phone numbers to call or web addresses to go to where information about depression is presented in a way that they can understand. It’s often difficult to see signs of depression and people because they can mask it with happy behaviors, but if they are suffering underneath all of that, then the root of their issue needs to be solved eventually.
Poor Financial Choices
Some people aren’t great with money. But, if a friend or family member gets to the point where they’re habitually making poor financial decisions, like participating in excessive gambling, then you need to confront them about it. If their lives and the lives of their spouses or children are being affected negatively, that’s really when an abrupt halt needs to come to the situation.
Remaining Nonjudgmental
Throughout it all, you need to remain nonjudgmental. Your friends don’t want to hear you nag them. Your family members don’t want you on their case. So it’s up to you to figure out how to talk to people in your life in a way that does not make them feel cornered. Because if they feel like you’re judging them, or they feel like you’re telling them what to do, and they are going to completely shut down and not listen to you, even if your words and actions are in their best interest.
