BADD_Insight

Insight for those "Meaningful Others" about their addicted:partner, spouse,
child, or parent

A word to those "meaningful others" who care about someone who is addicted.

In my experience, the first one to reach out for professional help is the addict’s "meaningful
other". A meaningful other might be a wife, husband, parent or an adult child of the addict.

There are several reasons that "meaningful others" are more likely to seek help before the addict
themselves do.

If the meaningful other is not addicted themselves then:

A.They have more of an objective view of what is really happening to the addict.

B.They are more aware and concerned about the implications of the addiction on others, for
example the children of the addict.

C.The "meaningful other" is being harmed by the addicted person’s behavior.

As a result of these factors, often-effective counseling starts with the non-addicted spouse or
adult child. If you suspect or know that someone you care for is addicted, you should seek help
immediately. DON’T WAIT FOR THEM TO BE READY. The biggest mistake "meaningful others" make
is they don’t think they need counseling, so they passively wait for the addict to get help. A wife
waits for her husband to be ready for counseling; after all, it is his problem. A husband complains
about his wife’s drinking problem, or a 34-year-old man does nothing about his mother’s abuse of
medication. People who have an addiction problem are often defensive or in denial and are very
reluctant to seek help.

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