Most people seek help for an addictive behavior when they have experienced a consequence that causes them more pain than the underlying feeling that drives the addiction. This can come in the form of something as simple as another person expressing their concern or in something as drastic as the loss of a family or a job. Many times people have tried things on their own to stop doing whatever they have been doing and have failed, leading them to feel that their situation is hopeless. At times families and friends have been through the ups and downs with the person and may feel anger, frustration, and depression as they have lived with the consequences as well. This leads family members to be the first, sometimes, to seek help for themselves whether the addicted person ever does or not.
Addiction is complicated.
It is not as simple as some would say when they admonish an addict to just stop what they are doing. These addicted people often feel out of control and, at times, feel they are trying to feed some insatiable monster on the inside. This bottomless pit has been referred to in some literature as a God-sized hole. Therefore the only salvation comes through understanding God's grace and love. The addiction is often driven by guilt and shame.