You see your loved one battle things that you do not understand. They are always anxious, worried, and unable to work through the day without fear. They may even be using drugs and alcohol to help them to get through it all. When this is the case, it is common to want to help a loved one with anxiety to get help. How do you convince them to get that help? At Bayview Recovery, our mental health team is here to help guide and support you through this process.
Why Does a Loved One with Anxiety Need Help?
When you have a loved one with anxiety that is not being treated, it can quickly become difficult to control the outcome of their lives. It is very common for those with this type of mental health disorder to find themselves turning to self-help, often in the form of drugs or alcohol. This can lead to addiction. The sooner your loved one seeks out help, the more likely they are to see improvement in their quality of life.
How Can You Help Them if They Will Not Listen?
When you consider how to help a loved one with anxiety, it is important to remember that what they are going through is more than just feeling anxious. They have a health condition that makes it hard for them to see what is really concerning and what is not. More so, their thoughts can move quickly from fear to stress in a matter of minutes. Helping them isn’t easy.
If you have a loved one with anxiety and you want to provide them with support, consider a few steps.
- Discuss what you are seeing with your loved one. Explain the symptoms.
- Tell them you recognize there is a concern, and you want to help them through it.
- Try to avoid telling them you know how they feel if you do not have an anxiety disorder.
- Talk about the benefits of treatment such as controlling their quality of life.
- Reassure them that you will be there to guide and support them every step of the way.
What If Your Loved One Is Using Drugs or Alcohol?
Many people with mental health disorders struggle with addiction. Often, addiction can cause the onset of these disorders. Other times, the symptoms of anxiety they feel can dissipate when they use drugs or alcohol. In this way, it works as a type of self-medication and treatment. Yet, drug use is worrisome because it creates its own complications to health. If your loved one with anxiety is using, consider reaching out in a different way.
Describe what you are seeing and the impact it has on your life. Recognize that they may not see their drug use as an addiction but rather a tool for solving their anxiety-related symptoms. For this reason, you need to show them that there is other help available. Guide them towards getting into a treatment program so they can gain mental and physical stability.
At Bayview Recovery, we offer a range of treatment options that can help them including:
- Intensive outpatient program
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Telehealth rehab support
- Partial hospitalization programs
There is help available to your loved one here. All you have to do is to reach out for immediate support.
Explore the Treatment Options Available at Bayview Recovery
Even if it feels there is not much you can do to help a loved one with anxiety, you do have the ability to reach out to our team to learn more. At Bayview Recovery, we work closely with our clients to ensure each person receives the type and amount of care that is right for their needs. Learn more about your loved one’s options by calling 855.478.3650.