Is My Loved One an Addict? Signs, Fears, and What to Do Next

Written by Holistic Recovery Bali. Medically reviewed by Nev Doidge, Clinical Director, NZ Level 7 AOD Practitioner & Social Worker.

It’s one of the hardest questions to ask: Is my loved one struggling with addiction? 

Maybe you’ve noticed changes—withdrawal, mood swings, lies, money disappearing, secrecy. Maybe your gut is telling you something isn’t right, but your heart doesn’t want to believe it.

Denial is common. 

Not just from the person using, but from those around them too. No one wants to admit there’s a problem. It’s painful. It feels like failure. But addiction doesn’t mean your loved one is broken. It means they’re hurting—and they’re trying to cope the only way they know how.

If you’re seeing the signs, trust yourself. You don’t need to accuse or attack. You can begin with compassion. Ask questions, not demands. Express concern, not blame. Say what you see. “I noticed you’ve been drinking more often and isolating yourself. I’m worried about you.” These words matter.

At Holistic Recovery Bali, we’ve worked with families who felt lost and helpless. 

We offer support not only to the one struggling, but to you. You are part of the recovery process too. With the right guidance, it’s possible to reconnect—not through force, but through honesty and boundaries.

The road ahead might be hard. 

But you don’t have to walk it alone.

Talk to us.

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About Holistic Recovery Bali

Holistic Recovery Bali is a private rehab and mental health centre in Bali, Indonesia. We work one client at a time, with an internationally qualified clinical team across counselling, addiction, and trauma. Programmes are personalised and run 28 to 60 days.

This article was medically reviewed by Nev Doidge, Clinical Director at Holistic Recovery Bali. Nev is a Qualified New Zealand Level 7 AOD Practitioner and Social Worker, accredited counsellor, DBT practitioner, and addiction specialist with two decades of clinical experience.

Reach us through our website contact form, on WhatsApp at +62 811 388 04006, or on our Australia toll-free line: 1800 329 014. Everything you share with us is confidential.