When addiction is affecting a family member it can be a difficult and unsettling situation. Family members want to help their loved one overcome their addiction and heal. However, they have no idea where to start or how to help someone begin their journey towards sobriety. Identifying an addiction, seeking help and conducting an intervention may all be part of helping a loved one take that first step towards treatment. Rimrock provides resources to help you and your family through these difficult situations.
Identifying an Addiction
Often identifying an addiction can be very difficult. Someone suffering from alcoholism can hide the illness from others and even themselves, often for a long time. Drinking may start without a conscious plan and an alcoholic may not have any awareness of how much they are consuming. If they are aware of their drinking, they may deny it, often forcefully. It may be difficult for you to recognize when they have crossed that line, and their drinking is out of control. Addiction is described as a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease, but the symptoms vary or may not be easy to notice. Some common elements that may signify a person is suffering from addiction include:
· Craving – A strong need or compulsion to use.
· Loss of Control – The frequent inability to stop using once an episode has begun.
· Physical Dependence – The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety.
· Tolerance – The need for increasing amounts of alcohol or drugs in order get “high.”
Additionally, a person suffering from alcoholism may gulp their drinks, drink alone, drink in the morning, or drink to deal with a stressful situation. Alcoholics may experience blackouts and not remember what happened while they were drinking. An addict’s compulsion to consume drugs or alcohol will begin to have a negative impact their life. They will plan their life around the opportunity to use. They may frequently change plans or their companions in order to drink. Bottles or pills may be hidden at home, in the car, or at work for quick pick-me-ups. However, you may not even realize any of this is happening because the addict will keep the symptoms hidden or deny they even exist.
Getting Help for a Loved One or Yourself
If you are concerned about a friend or family member who may have an addiction, Rimrock is available to help. Our Admission’s Department has Licensed Addiction Counselors available to help. Counselors can answer questions or address concerns you may have about your loved one. We can work with you to identify a plan to work with your loved one and support them in seeking treatment.
Our Admissions Department can be contacted at the following phone numbers: 406-248-3175 or 800-227-3953. Our normal admission hours are between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
However, even after hours, counselors are on duty and available to help those seeking treatment or their family members. Rimrock understands how difficult it can be when you suspect a family member is suffering from an addiction and we are here to help.
Interventions
Rimrock understands that an intervention can be complex undertaking, and that many people are not sure how to begin the process. We have a Certified Intervention Practitioner on staff to help friends and families and to motivate their loved one to seek help for their addiction.
Creating a plan for an intervention is the best way to have a successful intervention. Our interventionist will work with family and friends to create a plan that will be in the best interest of everyone involved. Family and friends will be able to express their needs and concerns with the help of the interventionist, and together we can achieve the goal of getting your loved one into treatment. As well, appropriate referrals can be made to ensure that family and friends receive guidance and support after the intervention.
Rimrock has the only Nationally Certified Intervention Professional in the state. Having a Nationally Certified Intervention Professional ensures that best practices are used and ethical rules are followed. Our interventionist has worked in the addiction field for over 10 years and is a Licensed Addiction Counselor in the state of Montana, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and is certified by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Professionals as a Masters Level Addiction Counselor and as a Substance Abuse Professional.
Rimrock can provide intervention services anywhere in the country; For more information on Rimrock’s intervention services, please call Malcolm Horn at 406-248-3175 or 800-227-3953.
Addiction can be a difficult situation for families to handle. Rimrock is here to help you every step of the way from identifying an addition, to intervention and treatment. Call us today to find out more about how we can help!
Rimrock
1231 North 29th Street Billings, MT 59101
406.248.3175
