When You or Your Loved One is Drinking or Using Too Much or Needs Mental Health Care …
Call Progress Valley. One of our Central Access Team members will listen to your concerns and help you figure out next steps.
Is your partner or your husband or wife drinking too much alcohol or using drugs? Are you worried about your child’s or another loved one’s substance use? Or are you wondering if you should be helping a friend with substance use or addiction?
First Take Care of Yourself
When you love someone who is struggling with alcoholism or addiction, here are some steps you can take:
- Understand Addiction – First, educate yourself. What does it mean to have a drug or alcohol problem? What is recovery? What is a relapse? The more you learn about the disease of addiction, the more help you can give.
- Get Help Yourself – Addiction is a family disease. You can’t control your loved one’s behavior, but you can control how you behave in your relationship with them. Ask Progress Valley for recommendations, resources, or supports.
- Establish Boundaries and Set Limits – If your loved one has a problem with alcohol or drugs, you may need to evaluate or change some boundaries and limits. This will help you stay healthy and can also help your loved one. Sometimes behaviors that seem right may actually be unhelpful. An addicted person can benefit from stable and skillful engagement from family members.
- Communicate – Share your concerns regularly. Be direct, respectful and caring. You may be experiencing strong emotions, such as anger and fear, but do your best to keep your emotions from harming communication and your relationship with your loved one.
- Take Care of Yourself – You are best equipped to help others when you are well. You can find satisfaction and quality of life even when a loved one is struggling. Prioritize your own health and well-being, and don’t put yourself in dangerous situations. And make sure you have a support system — everyone needs someone to talk to about what’s going on.
- Avoid Self-blame – You did not cause your loved one to use drugs or alcohol too much. You can encourage treatment and behavior changes, but you can’t force someone to change their lives.
Resources About Drinking Too Much Alcohol or Using Drugs
Want to learn more? Check out the information and links we’ve gathered for you and your loved one. No matter where you are in Minnesota or across the country, help is available.
