Many people around the world are addicted to drugs and are unable to overcome their addiction. In such circumstances, having someone who becomes your strength and encourages you to return to life appears to be a ray of hope. Have you ever looked for your friends in your neighbourhood? How can you assist a friend who is a drug addict? You may be considering the methods. Is it a simple procedure? Most emphatically not. However, there are methods that can be used to assist such patients or addicts. Let us go over how you can tell if someone is addicted based on their physical condition and behaviour. Furthermore, how can you help those who are addicted to drugs?

How can I tell if my friend is addicted?

You can look at the symptoms that will help you identify whether your friend is addicted or not.

Behavioral Symptoms:

• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Lack of motivation
• Sudden change in behavior
• Self-isolation
• Poor performance at school or college
• Stealing or selling personal things to buy drugs

Physical symptoms:

• A runny nose
• Red or blood-colored eyes, size of pupils smaller or larger than normal.
• Frequent nose bleeding and dizziness
• Sudden loss of weight or dramatic weight gain.
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sleeping disorders

How can I help my friend?

You’ve probably heard the saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” It is critical to always assist your friends when they are in need because friendship is all about standing by each other in difficult times and situations.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Try to respect their privacy and develop a trustworthy relationship with them. Always be truthful with them. Never reveal their information or tell anyone else their story. Don’t berate them for their habits. It could be harmful to them. Furthermore, do not threaten them by informing them of the negative consequences. Try to calm them down and establish a good relationship with them.

Is it easy to help people addicted to drugs?

Certainly not! It is never easy to deal with someone who is fighting for his mental and physical health as a result of his addiction to drugs.

They may not always agree that they have a problem. There’s also a chance they won’t try to change their minds and will instead deny you recovery assistance. Furthermore, some patients are embarrassed and do not want to share their story for fear of informing someone else.

For such patients, there is no quick start to recovery. It is a slow process that requires trust.

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Strategies to follow

1-Build Trust:

If an addict confides in you about their addiction, try to keep it a secret. Maintain a positive relationship at all times. If you have broken someone’s trust, it may be difficult to rebuild it.

• They might see things differently than you do. They may believe you are attempting to control them or making fun of them at times.
• Manage your own stress while speaking with them, because a stressful environment on both sides can exacerbate the situation.
• Trust is a two-way street. If you don’t keep secrets, stress will accumulate. Make an effort to develop a mutual relationship with your loved ones. If you do not keep it up, the situation will deteriorate even further.

2-Communicate with them:

You should express your concern for their recovery to your loved ones. It will encourage them to open up to you about their feelings and difficulties. Encourage them to gain the confidence to communicate and change, because the most important role is when they accept that they want to change and live a happy and healthy life.

3-Check for treatment options:

The treatment process varies from person to person. You can select from a variety of options. Build trust first, then be honest with them about your feelings. Following that, look into treatment options.

Also, read: Don’t compare yourself with others. There is no comparison between the sun and the moon. Both shine at their own time.

Therapies:

Persuade your loved ones to attend therapy and counselling sessions. Encourage them that they are important for their own well-being, and they will feel better as a result. Furthermore, always make an effort to respect their privacy. If they attempt to seek therapy or counselling, they keep this private and do not attempt to disclose their situation.

Takeaways:

Always try to be a good listener to someone who is in pain. Maintain active communication with them while remaining honest and concerned about their well-being. Assist them in breaking those habits and rediscovering the joys of life and its colours.

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