Loving someone with an addiction often feels like a no-win battle. On one hand, you know that you can’t imagine your life without this person, yet you might not be able to see how you can keep going on like this when their behavior causes you so much pain. Having a loved one who refuses to go to rehab can leave you with so many questions.
After all, it might be clear that they are miserable living like they do now, and they may even express how sorry they are for some of their behavior. When you’re on the outside looking in, it doesn’t make sense for someone to continuously use drugs or alcohol when it leaves them feeling so sick the next day. While some people naturally realize the importance of getting help for their addiction, others just have to hit a deeper rock bottom before they see the light.
Fortunately, you don’t have to continue watching your loved one go downhill. Taking the right actions could even save them from hitting their all-time low. Working through these short steps can help you to shift your loved one’s mindset to one that embraces the opportunity to change in a formal rehab program.
Identify Their Reasons for Refusing to Go to Rehab
People go through several different stages before they reach a point of acceptance regarding their need for professional treatment. Your loved one might still be in the earliest stage where they truly don’t see a problem. Denial is a powerful emotional response to addiction, and your loved one might be in this stage if they claim that they can quit using drugs or alcohol anytime. Your loved one might even try to prove that this is true by quitting for a few days only to return to their habits.
Someone who is in denial might also hide their drug or alcohol use, but this typically doesn’t work for long. Most likely, you’ll come across evidence of their habits or notice their behavior is erratic. Your loved one might be further along in their ability to see the need for treatment. People who have passed the point of denial may still avoid rehab due to a list of excuses.
These are just a few of the most common reasons why people claim that they can’t go to rehab, and each one has a potential solution.
- They’re afraid of having to follow rules in a rehab program
- They aren’t sure how to pay for treatment
- They have kids, pets, or someone else who needs their care
- They’re afraid of failure
- They aren’t ready to deal with their underlying problems just yet
Offer Reasonable Solutions for Their Concerns
For every excuse that an addict gives, there is usually a simple solution. The problem is that drugs and alcohol are clouding their mind, and they might not be able to see the bright future through all of the fog. You can help your loved one to see the benefits of going to treatment by addressing their excuses. If your loved one says that they don’t want to have to follow the rules in rehab, then you can explain to them how things such as a curfew help to keep them safe.
Or, you might look for a treatment program that offers them intensive therapy that helps them get home quicker. You can also provide ideas for a child, pet, and senior family member care if your loved one claims that they can’t leave someone that they love alone. Explaining how getting sober helps them be a better caregiver might also be the motivation they need to go to rehab.
Set Clear Consequences for Refusing to Seek Help
For some people, reality doesn’t seem to set in until they face the prospect of losing the people and lifestyle that they love. If your loved one still refuses to go to rehab even after you help address their concerns, then it might be time to get tough. Depending upon your relationship, you might need to set boundaries that protect you from drug or alcohol misuse.
Asking them to live somewhere else until they get sober, refusing to give them money, and limiting the time you spend together might be hard to do, but these steps may help your loved one to see what all they can lose if they don’t decide to get sober. Are you baffled by how your loved one could refuse to improve their life by going to rehab? We can help you figure out how to convince them that treatment is their best option. Give us a call today at 772-266-5320.
