Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute>>Someone I Know Needs Help

Someone I Know Needs Help

 For Family Members, Friends, & Others
Concerned About an Individual With a Problem

SLBMI

If someone you know has a problem, the first way you can help is to provide this person with information about the nature of the problem and the treatment options available. Our website will assist you in finding this kind of information. If the individual accepts the information you provide and actively pursues treatment, then the resources outlined in Section 1 should be sufficient. However, if you run into some obstacles, you may need to consider resources described in Section 2.

1. THE PERSON ACKOWLEDEGES THE PROBLEM AND IS WILLING TO SEEK HELP

Click here to obtain information on the types of problems treated at SLBMI. If you already know the SLBMI program in which you are interested, you can return to the homepage and click on the name of that program. Programs are listed on the upper right hand side of the homepage. 

2. THE PERSON DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR WON’T SEEK HELP

We hope the person you’re concerned about recognizes a problem exists, appreciates your efforts on his or her behalf, is interested in what you have learned, and takes the appropriate steps necessary to get help and pursue recovery. However, if this does not sound like the person you know, you are not alone. Refusal to deal with a problem is more common than most people think. We call this pattern “recovery avoidance.”

Recovery avoidance can be a very difficult situation for family and friends. At the very least, you are burdened by worry about the welfare of a person you care about. However, the burden may extend well beyond that. The problem can create a variety of additional emotional and financial burdens for family and friends. If you have made a concerted effort to convince the person to change, you are probably feeling additional frustration or hopelessness. There is reason for optimism, though. You have options other than waiting idly for someone else to change. In order to successful, though, you will have to be willing to try a new approach.

- The first thing you can do is to learn more about recovery avoidance. To read an article on this topic, click here. The article discusses Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but most of the issues are relevant to families dealing with other problems.

- If you would like additional assistance, we provide consultation specifically designed to help families and friends deal effectively with a recovery avoider. If you would like more information on our consultation services, click here.

- If you are reluctant to seek consultation for any reason, you may want to read an article for people in your situation (click here).  It describes some common misconceptions that prevent families from getting the help they need.