Reaching Out: What to Look for When a Loved One Is Struggling

You understandably want your loved ones to lead happy, fulfilling lives and to remain as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, life is full of stressors, and these stressors may be overwhelming to your loved ones at times. Identifying signs that they are struggling is the first step to take to help them get through this rough time as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.

Many people turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to cope with unpleasant life circumstances and incredible amounts of stress. You may not initially notice signs of addiction if you are not living with the person, but you may eventually notice that the person is often drunk, high or otherwise not behaving as usual. The person may act out of character, such as showing up late when he or she is normally punctual. Irritability, denial and other signs may also be present depending on the circumstances. When you notice these signs, you may consider alcohol rehab, drug rehab or non-addictive opioid treatment.

Depression and addiction may go hand in hand, or a loved one may suffer from depression without turning to drugs or alcohol. Depressive symptoms may include frequent mood swings or constantly feeling down, irritability, weepiness, pulling away from others, sleeping excessively or being unable to sleep and more. Some people may not be aware that they are depressed, so you may need to draw attention to this before you can help him or her find a specialist to provide treatment.

A loved one does not need to have an addiction or be clinically depressed to be overwhelmed by high levels of stress. If you are aware that a loved one is going through a tough situation or may be inundated with too many seemingly minor stressors, it may be helpful to offer assistance. For example, if a loved one has welcomed a new baby into their lives and has several other children, offering to take the older kids for the weekend or offering to prepare a few dinners for the family may be helpful.

If you notice signs of stress and step in sooner rather than later, you may be able to help a loved one avoid issues with depression or addiction. Some people avoid stepping in because they do not want to be nosy or intrusive, but there are times when assistance and intervention are essential for the overall health and well-being of a loved one.