Advice for Brothers of Addicts
When you were growing up you likely did all of those typical things brothers do. You were protective of your sisters while at the same time taking pleasure in proving you were tougher than your brothers were. But now that you’re an adult, you find yourself in a completely different situation due to a sibling who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
You find yourself in a strange place dominated by mixed emotions. On the one hand, the love you have for your sibling causes you to feel deep sorrow, hopelessness, and perhaps even a little guilt. On the other hand, you may also be somewhat angry, bitter, and resentful because of the effect your sibling’s addiction has on your entire family.
These mixed emotions are neither abnormal nor surprising. There are other brothers just like you dealing with the same emotions and the same family circumstances. The key is not to become a prisoner to them. Addiction Helpline is here to make sure you get the support you need to avoid becoming a prisoner.
Addiction Helpline works with the best drug and alcohol rehab clinics in the UK. All of our clinics are certified and proven successful. Our mission is to get your sibling into an appropriate program as soon as he or she makes the decision to seek help. At the same time, we want to make sure you and your family are getting the support services you need.
Why Your Sibling Behaves As He or She Does
You likely have very fond memories from your years growing up together. But along with those memories is a profound confusion as to how your sibling ever ended up an addict. Trust us when we say that confusion can lead to madness if you let it.
Even though your sibling may blame a whole host of circumstances, the reality of the matter is that he or she has chosen to pursue the substance abuse that led to their addiction. They are also choosing to remain mired in their life of misery by not seeking the help they need. It is not your fault; do not blame yourself.
Remember that addiction does not come on instantly. Instead, it is a gradual process that starts with a single action taken by the future addict. That action may seem harmless at the time, but when it is repeated with no thought for the consequences, addiction is just a few steps down the road. That’s how your sibling arrived in his/her current place.
How You Can Help
Until your sibling reaches a place where he or she is ready to seek help, there is not much you can do for them directly. However, there is still plenty for you to do. First is to look after the safety and welfare of the rest of your family. This includes your parents.
If your sibling is verbally or physically abusive, you need to separate the rest of your family from him/her for their own protection. Being estranged from your sibling is not the most pleasant course of action, but it may be necessary.
Second, you can call us at Addiction Helpline to learn about all of the treatment options available to your sibling. You need to have this information readily available so that you can act quickly when your sibling finally decides to seek help. You will want to get him/her into a program before they change their mind again.
Third, you can seek professional advice about conducting an intervention with other family members and friends. Experts agree that an intervention is an excellent tool for motivating the addict to seek treatment. An intervention is designed to make the addict understand he or she is destroying the lives of loved ones and friends, in addition to their own
We Are Here to Help
Please understand that Addiction Helpline is not here to judge you or your family. We are here to help you the same way we have helped countless other families in the same situation. We specialise in providing treatment referrals, connecting families with local services, and even helping make treatment arrangements including transportation and payment options.
We can assist you, but you need to contact us to make it happen. Do not be afraid to call us on the phone or drop us an e-mail. And just so you know, all of our services are free. You have nothing to lose by giving us a call.