When someone you care about begins to struggle with addiction, it’s often difficult to know when help is truly needed. At first, you may brush off concerning behaviors, hoping they’re temporary. You may fear pushing them away if you bring it up. But as addiction takes hold, the signs become harder to ignore. At Good Landing Recovery, we believe recognizing the problem early can save a life. Knowing when to step in could be the first step toward your loved one’s healing.

Look Beyond the Obvious Signs

Addiction does not always look like what people expect. While physical symptoms like weight changes, bloodshot eyes, or poor hygiene can be present, many people hide their addiction well. Emotional distance, secrecy, and mood swings may be your first clues.

Watch for behaviors that signal something deeper is wrong. Your loved one may stop answering calls, avoid family gatherings, or show sudden changes in work or school performance. They may become defensive when questioned or dismiss your concerns entirely. What matters is not whether the signs are dramatic, but whether you sense a shift in who they are becoming.

Addiction often begins in secret but thrives in silence. Paying attention to subtle changes allows you to recognize when your loved one needs help before the damage worsens.

Trust Your Spiritual Discernment

As a parent, spouse, or friend, God has given you instincts for a reason. When you feel unsettled about your loved one’s choices, that may be the Holy Spirit prompting you to pay closer attention. Prayerfully ask God to give you wisdom and discernment. Look not only at the surface but at patterns in their behavior, emotional health, and spiritual life.

When someone distances themselves from community, stops pursuing their faith, and grows emotionally withdrawn, addiction could be the root cause. Let your faith guide you to approach them with both grace and truth.

Recognize When Excuses Become Patterns

It is common for someone struggling with addiction to explain away concerning behaviors. They may blame work stress, relationship struggles, or financial pressure. But when excuses pile up and behavior continues to worsen, you are likely seeing more than a temporary problem.

Watch for patterns like:

  • Repeated broken promises to change or slow down.
  • Constant excuses when confronted about their behavior.
  • Quick temper or defensiveness when asked simple questions.

Recognizing when explanations stop making sense is key. Addiction often convinces the person that they’re in control when they’re not.

Approach Them with Love, Not Accusation

If you believe your loved one needs help, do not respond with anger or blame. Addiction thrives in secrecy and shame. Confronting someone harshly may cause them to withdraw further.

Instead, speak from your heart. Be honest about your concern, but focus on your love for them. Say things like, “I’m concerned because I care about you, not because I’m angry.” Let them know that you see their pain and that you’re ready to walk beside them toward healing.

Your words can open a door to recovery if spoken in love and patience.

Understand You Cannot Force Change

One of the hardest realities in loving someone with addiction is accepting that you cannot change them. You can pray, speak truth, and offer support, but ultimately, your loved one must choose to seek help. Addiction often convinces people they do not need help at all.

While you wait, focus on your own emotional and spiritual health. Stay connected to your faith, seek wise counsel, and avoid slipping into enabling behaviors. Your role is to stand in truth and love, not to rescue.

When Professional Help Becomes Necessary

If your loved one’s safety is at risk, or if their behavior begins to harm others, it may be time to encourage professional intervention. Inpatient or outpatient programs, counseling, and faith-based support can provide the structure they need to begin healing.

Be prepared for resistance. Your loved one may not recognize their need for help right away. Keep planting seeds of truth while trusting God to soften their heart.

Hope Is Always Possible

It is easy to feel powerless when someone you love is caught in addiction. But remember this: no situation is hopeless. At Good Landing Recovery, we have seen lives transformed by God’s grace and truth. What addiction tries to destroy, Christ can restore.

Continue to pray. Continue to speak hope. Continue to love them as they are, while believing in who they can become through healing.

Your loved one may need help even if they cannot admit it yet. Stay faithful. Healing begins when someone dares to believe that change is possible.