Helping a Loved One Through Addiction

by guest blogger Alicia Lawrence

One of the hardest aspects of dealing with the addiction of a significant other is the helplessness you feel. Then there's guilt associated with being an enabler. This is often rationalized with, "Better me than a stranger," "At least they won't steal," or whatever excuse springs to mind to ease your conscience. Eventually, this ends in one of two ways: You either slowly manage to make someone else's addiction entirely about yourself or you erase yourself and your emotions completely.

Neither scenario is of use to the loved one struggling with addiction or to you, either. If you are truly trying to find a way to be of service to someone you care about, there are proactive and helpful steps you can and should take.