REHAB BRISTOL often hear from the families, friends and colleagues of people suffering with addiction – we can chat through your concerns and provide advice on private residential treatment options.

Do you have concerns about someone you know? Their health, their behaviour and their future?

Are you witnessing uncharacteristic or bizarre behaviours through addiction, like anxiety, agitation,
aggression, anger, sometimes even physical or verbal violence?

It’s not unusual, and you’re not alone.

Most individuals in addiction do need to hit rock bottom before beginning to recover in earnest.

The sad truth is that this often means only a significant negative event is enough to help those in addiction finally decide they need help.

Combative language, however well meant, can further isolate the person. Addiction is difficult for
people to admit to … there remains a strong stigma and often people feel great shame.

We find tackling the conversation in a calm, listening manner can really help.

We view people suffering with addiction through a quasi-medicalemotional lens. Their skills in
dealing with emotional ups and downs have led to a physical addiction, and this has changed their
behaviour. This process, however deep it may feel, is reversible.

Help is available in the Bristol area. Our partner clinics have huge collective experience and have
successfully treated 100s of clients over the years.

The recovery team
Staff in rehabs are there because they have chosen to be, it’s a vocation, not just a job. Recovery
practitioners are often in recovery themselves and many have been through a residential treatment
programme themselves … one of the ways they have helped their own recovery has been to train to
help others.

This means that rehabs are full of staff and clients that all want the same thing and can form a very
powerful foundation for long term sobriety goals.

Choose your moment
Addiction is … often shameful for the person – but your conversation can take on a calm and
empathic tone – this will help.

You may find that you need … to raise the issue a couple of times before they open-up to you – so
prepare your first approach carefully – you want to leave the conversation wide open for another
time, if they clam up.

A local park or your kitchen when everyone else is out the house might be a good place to raise
the issue. The focus needs to be on what you’re saying as someone they respect – without
distractions.

Prepare … there is a self-assessment tool written by experts at the World Health Org. Perhaps
encourage the person you care about to have a go, and then have a chat about the outcome
afterwards with Rehab Bristol.

What to look out for
A person suffering from addiction may:
isolate themselves from friends and family
look different due to weight loss, poor complexion
have a new social circle
be uneasy at social events (a preoccupation with the drug they crave)
be broke – asks for money
go to great lengths to get their drug
neglect their appearance …
Their focus is on their addiction

Hiding evidence:
The person you’re worried about may hide evidence related to their addiction – they will feel ashamed
No one chooses to be addicted – at this stage, they have no choice but to pursue their addiction
Addiction takes hold … and becoming free is not something they can do alone
REMEMBER: no one chooses to be an addict and the changes that follow addiction are ‘out of
character’ – the person is temporarily lost, and with treatment, there’s every chance they’re come
back.

Full recoveries are the most common outcome by far.

Please phone in today for advice tailored to your concerns – we can offer support while you
encourage this person you know and love to find the help they need.