5 Tips For Supporting a Loved One With Substance Use Disorder

Supporting a loved one through substance use disorder can feel overwhelming. You want to be supportive without overstepping. However, the situation is often delicate and requires professional guidance. Addressing substance use disorder is complex, and expert help can make a significant difference.

At her psychiatry practice in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, Wendy Ann Reiss, MSN, PMHNP-BC, provides compassionate care to individuals facing substance use challenges and guidance for their families.

If you suspect a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, here are five psychiatry-backed tips to guide you:

1. Approach with compassion, not judgment

When supporting a loved one through substance use disorder, they may already feel ashamed or defeated. Your role isn’t to make them feel worse. Offer a listening ear and show you’re there for them — no matter what. 

Avoid criticizing or blaming them for their struggles. Instead, acknowledge how difficult their situation is and remind them that they’re not alone. The more understanding and nonjudgmental you are, the more likely they’ll open up and be willing to seek help.

2. Encourage them to get professional help

Addiction can feel impossible to overcome on your own. Encourage your loved one to get professional support. A psychiatrist specializing in substance use disorder can guide them through the recovery process with the right tools and expertise. 

Gently suggest they seek help, but avoid pushing too hard — getting professional help is a personal decision. If they seem open to it, offer to assist in connecting with us. Sometimes, just knowing that someone cares enough to support them in this way can make all the difference.

3. Avoid enabling their behavior

It’s natural to want to protect your loved one. However, enabling their behavior can make things worse in the long run. This might mean covering for them when they slip up, ignoring harmful behaviors, or rescuing them from the consequences of their actions. 

While it might seem like you’re helping, enabling prevents them from facing the reality of their addiction and taking responsibility. Set clear boundaries from the beginning. Saying “no” or letting them face the consequences of their choices is tough love but necessary for their recovery.

4. Don’t forget to take care of yourself

Supporting someone with substance use disorder can be emotionally draining, and it’s easy to forget about your own needs. But if you don’t care for yourself, you won’t be able to help them effectively. 

Find time for self-care. Take breaks, seek support from friends, or talk to a therapist. 

5. Remember that recovery doesn’t happen overnight

The road to recovery can be long, tedious, and bumpy. There will be good and bad days, and sometimes setbacks can feel discouraging. Be patient, and don’t expect immediate results. Celebrate small wins along the way, and offer encouragement when things get tough. 

Even when the process seems frustrating, your continued support is one of the most important factors in helping them move forward.

Get help for substance use disorder

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, get the help you deserve at Wendy Ann Reiss, MSN, PMHNP-BC. Call (908) 386-5112 or use our online booking tool to request an appointment today.