Loved One - Washington Recovery Help Line

My Loved one Needs Help

Behavioral Health conditions affect families, not only individuals. Many people struggle with knowing what they can do to help a loved one. It’s difficult to know where the line between helping and enabling falls. Sorting through feelings of fear, shame, and guilt can make the process more difficult.

It’s important to know that behavioral health issues are diagnosable, treatable conditions. Much like any physical health concern, it is not a moral failing or a sign of weakness. Having a loved one who is struggling with a behavioral health issue is not your fault. A mental health condition is not a symptom of your own failure.

Enabling Behaviors

Ignore unacceptable behaviors and/or excuse them as caused by the drug
Take care of your loved one’s daily responsibilities or financial obligations while they are using
Lie for a family member, make excuses, and generally hide the problem from others
Make open-ended threats and ultimatums
Make many appointments for evaluations and counseling services that are never kept

Helpful Behaviors

Acknowledge the disorder causes out of character behavior and address it without judgement
Help with tasks within your reasonable scope while the individual is in treatment
Speak up when talking with professionals and support systems who can help
Set clear boundaries for your willingness to help and keep those boundaries
Keep a short list of who to contact if/when the individual agrees to treatment – find out who accepts walk-ins for evaluations

Insurance

If your loved one does not have insurance, they may be eligible for coverage through Medicaid. Their income status determines eligibility. You cannot enroll another adult into a health plan. Only the individual who will be using the insurance plan can enroll themselves. Washington Recovery Helpline is not affiliated with Medicaid. We cannot make determinations about eligibility or enrollment.

Eligibility for Medicaid

Talk it out.

Sharing a loved one’s struggles is not always comfortable. Yet, it is necessary to talk it out with people who can be of help. Talking to a trusted family physician, a counselor/therapist, clergy member, and other friends and family can be helpful. There are also support groups throughout Washington State that can help:

Mental Health Challenges and Co-occuring Disorders Support Groups:

NAMI

Substance Use Disorder Support Groups:

Problem Gambling Support Groups:

Gam-Anon

Talking about what is happening helps in both relieving pressure and providing clarity.

Find Hope

“My son is now on suboxone and doing better. Seeing him go from heroin to suboxone is like seeing the dead come back to life.”

Caller called back to give an update on how his son is doing now in recovery
“My husband tried to quit drinking on his own before, and the withdrawal was life-threatening. The resources provided to us, as well as the explanation of the process helped me feel better about getting him into inpatient treatment.”

Wife calling on behalf of her husband who is struggling with substance use disorder
“I have been trying to find supportive resources all day, and the Washington Recovery Help Line has given me great information and resources for our friend.”

Individual looking for resources for a 19 year old family friend

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Resources

My Loved one Needs Help

How can I help without enabling?

Enabling Behaviors

Helpful Behaviors

Insurance

Talk it out.

Find Hope

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