How to Talk to Friends and Family About Your Addiction

When you’re struggling with an addiction, it can be hard to reach out to your loved ones for help. First of all, you should know that asking for help is very courageous, so you shouldn’t feel embarrassed or like you are a burden to your friends and/or family members. Whatever is holding you back, here are some tips to help you take that step. Write a Letter In the moment, it can be hard to find the right words—no matter how many times you have rehearsed it. Writing your thoughts and feelings down can help you say the words you need to say to your loved ones. You could write in your journal, write an email, type it out, or whatever you feel most comfortable with. Talk to a Stranger First It can be hard to talk to our loved ones about our struggles and shortcomings because they know us—they’ve seen us at our best, so how are we supposed to disappoint them? Reaching out to a stranger can be a good first step. They don’t know you, so why would they judge you for your mistakes? A great stranger to seek out would be someone that has struggled with a similar issue. Perhaps there is someone that you follow on social media, someone you went to school with, or a friend of a friend that has struggled with an addiction and would be willing to talk to you. Whether you decide to message someone online, reach out to a hotline, or strike up a conversation on the bus, speaking to a stranger is a great way to start telling your story and reaching out to others for help. Go to Therapy  Therapists are trained to help us overcome our addictions. So why not start by talking to a professional? They’ll give you tips on how to talk to your loved ones. Maybe you could even bring them to a session. Talking about your addiction and deciding to ask for help is a scary step, but it is also very rewarding. Your friends and family members only want to see you succeed and they will definitely stick by you in times of struggle. If you are worried about how to reach out to your loved ones, or you feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to, Empower Slave to None is here for you. Feel free to message us on one of our social media platforms.