Drug overdose deaths are soaring and addiction is being recognized as a true disease. When you’re loved one is addicted to a substance, you want to link arms with them down their road to recovery, but what’s the best action you can take?

Besides hosting an intervention, and attending therapies, showing compassion towards them is one of the most beneficial ways to help.

Read on to find out why showing compassion to those struggling with addiction is now encouraged by experts.

Why Compassion is Important

Compassion is an emotional response to the suffering of others and a desire to help.

When most people hear or see of addiction, they’re quick to pass judgment or remove themselves emotionally from the situation. This pushes the person further away and can add to the stress of feeling lost, lonely, and helpless. The general population also has a negative view of addicts.

Educating ourselves on how addiction works and who it affects can help us generate a more compassionate attitude and result in the recovery of many. Addiction can happen to anyone.

What Compassion Looks Like Towards The Addict

If you’re thinking, “How can I show compassion?” let’s look at what that looks like.

Addiction is nicknamed the ‘family disease’ because it seeps into the entire family unit. For a long while, compassion was discouraged because it was thought of as enabling the behavior of the addict. It is possible to both love and support your loved one while at the same time not encouraging the destructive behavior.

Codependent behaviors are common in families with addicts. These behaviors must stop for the addict to start getting better. This is a compassionate act and will vary from family to family.

Taking that first step of deciding to admit themselves into a recovery program is a huge leap because they are ashamed of what they’ve become. This treatment has the potential to aid them in healing and help them regain their life, so try to reassure them every step of the way.

Lack Of Compassion For The Addicted

Addicts who have no one in their corner often feel defeated, rejected, and validated in their shame. These feelings lead them deeper down this path and make recovery much more difficult.

Sympathy vs. Empathy

Sympathy is, essentially, feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is working to understand the feelings of another.

Sympathy is unable to reach the addict because you’re seeing their problem and not them. The person feels judgment, not a desire from the other to gain a true perception of them and their situation.

Empathy, on the other hand, steps into the addict’s world and strives to understand them and their viewpoint. Ultimately empathy is the compassion that addicts need to fuel them for their recovery.

Compassion: A Wise Choice Towards Those Struggling With Addiction

When or if you discover someone you love is dealing with a type of drug addiction, remember that compassion is your greatest weapon in helping them overcome.

Those that are addicted to different substances need empathy and understanding more than finger-pointing. Try coming alongside them with compassion and watch them flourish.

Looking for more ways to help a loved one through addiction? Visit this page and find everything you need to know.