Do you ever find yourself just feeling helpless? Like you have just run out of options or you are just at a loss for words?
You might find yourself feeling this way quite often if a fighter pilot you know and love has found themselves in the midst of addiction – whether it be to drugs or alcohol.
Oftentimes, those who have spouses or other loved ones who have found themselves in the midst of addiction are incredibly unsure what to do…
What do you say?
How do you help them?
When have you done or said too much?
You will frequently find yourself asking questions like that as you struggle to decide what to do – what is best and how much is too much. However, when dealing with addiction in fighter pilots, other military personnel, or really just any addict in general, there are a few things to keep in mind…
You will never understand.
This is probably no secret to you – and your addicted loved one has probably also made this very clear – but you will never understand. A special circumstance that comes with fighter pilot addiction is the events leading up to the addiction…
So, not only will you not understand what it is like to be addicted to something – unless you are a recovering addict yourself – you will also not understand what it is like to see the things they have seen and be in the positions they have been in. The events that take place in war take a toll on fighter pilots both mentally and physically, easily leading them to addiction.
So, as you try to help your loved one, be open-minded and try to console them with the typical, “I understand.”
They will need time to grieve.
They may want you involved in their grieving and they may not – it is all about how they feel best about going about it and what is beneficial to their healing.
Most fighter pilots, and other military personnel alike, often find themselves holding their emotions in. This can also aid in their falling into addiction.
As they begin to recover, they will need to grieve for two things: the times they had in the military – losses suffered, terrible acts were seen – and the quitting of their drug of choice. The drug is their crutch and it has continued to be a part of their life. In order to recover, it takes a grieving period just realizing that it is time to lose the substance and move on.
Wrapping It Up
In conclusion, addicts need help, love, and support. But, they also need you to be understanding and to learn how to properly help them.
Aiding an addict in recovery is a team effort that takes time and dedication from everyone.
