Addiction doesn’t knock politely, it slips into lives quietly, and often, by the time families notice, the damage has already begun. For anyone who’s ever asked themselves, “How can I help someone I love who’s struggling with addiction?”, this conversation offers perspective, hope, and hard truths.
On this episode of The One Thing Podcast on Edge Radio Australia, lived experience advocate Paris Le Maistre shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery. Her story offers both families and individuals the insight so many are searching for when addiction touches their lives.
Understanding Addiction: More Than Just a Habit
Addiction isn’t only about drugs or alcohol, it’s often rooted in emotional wounds, unresolved trauma, and the desperate search for relief. For Paris, addiction began at 13 when alcohol gave her what felt like “a giant hug” offering comfort in a life already marked by emotional chaos.
Through her experience, Paris highlights how addiction and mental health are intertwined, and why addressing the emotional root is just as vital as confronting the addiction itself.
What Families Need to Know When a Loved One Struggles with Addiction
If you’ve ever wondered how to help a loved one struggling with addiction, here’s what Paris’s story makes clear:
- Addiction often masks emotional pain rather than causes it.
- Love and boundaries go hand in hand, enabling and rescuing rarely lead to recovery.
- Change must start from within, addicts often won’t seek help until they are truly ready.
- Honest conversations without judgment can leave the door open for future healing.
- Mental health and addiction recovery must be treated together, not separately.
How to Help a Loved One Struggling with Addiction: Practical Tips
- Lead with compassion, not confrontation. Let them know they are loved, but also hold healthy boundaries.
- Don’t enable the behavior. Support their life, not their addiction.
- Encourage professional help, but understand you can’t force someone into recovery.
- Take care of yourself, too. Supporting someone through addiction is emotionally draining, and self-care is essential.
- Stay hopeful. Even in silence and distance, the seeds you plant today may help them choose recovery later.
Comments
Thank you for sharing Paris’s story. It gave me a better understanding of what addiction really feels like. I learned that love, patience, and setting boundaries are very important. This post gives hope to families going through a hard time.
This is such an important conversation. Thank you, Paris, for your vulnerability and honesty. It’s so true that addiction is rarely just about the substance, it’s about the pain underneath. Stories like yours give hope and deeper understanding to families and individuals who are struggling. Grateful for this message and for platforms like Edge Radio Australia that help bring these critical discussions to light.
I think the first step is ‘don’t be judgmental about people with addiction’📌
Thank you Paris for Sharon your story. My take on this is to recognize patterns and situations that lead to addictive situations and try to stay away from them
Having helped someone with addiction years back, this really resonates with me.
The first start of help is empathy and compassion.
Thanks for this insightful piece.
Leading with compassion without confrontation shows you live and cares about them in helping an adict becomes a better person.
Thank you for this wonderful piece. Addiction is terrible and can happen to anyone. Paris is a very strong woman.
Thank you for this wonderful piece. Paris is a very strong woman. Addiction is terrible and can happen to anyone.
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