Millions of people are affected by addiction every year.
If your loved one has attended an inpatient drug rehab, that is a great first step on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. Recovery can be a long process and avoiding relapse is essential.
Are you wondering how you can be supportive of your loved one after they leave a treatment center? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
Learn About Addiction and Recovery
If you are a family member of an addict, one of the ways that you can support them after they have left a treatment center is to learn as much as you can about addiction and recovery.
Recovering from an addiction is often one of the greatest challenges that any individual could go through.
By learning about the potential health issues, potential triggers, psychological changes addiction causes, the recovery process, and enablement, you can help understand how to be supportive.
By becoming educated in this way you might find it much easier to relate to a recovering addict and also help them in avoiding relapse.
Prepare for and Understand Extended Problems
Sobriety improves many of the problems that addiction creates, however, many of the problems will still be present during an individual’s recovery.
It is common for addicts to have financial problems, health problems, and relationship issues. These will not necessarily go away instantly once sobriety is reached. Also, it’s important to understand that relapse is always a possibility.
Don’t Have Unreasonable Expectations
It is totally natural for the family member of an addict to want the best for their loved ones. It’s important to understand, though, that the addiction is likely not the only source of problems in their lives. You’ll want to avoid assuming that rehab will “cure” someone.
It’s important to try and avoid disappointment in the progress that a recovering addict has made. Recovering from an addiction can take a long time as well as dealing with all of the issues that have been caused by or made worse by the addiction.
If you hold unreasonable expectations, it is possible that you will make the recovering addict feel hopeless and increase the likelihood that they will relapse. It’s important to understand that recovery is a process that takes time and is incredibly challenging.
Make Changes to Support Sobriety
Having supported loved ones can be absolutely crucial in the recovery process. This is particularly true in the first few months after leaving rehab.
One thing that you want to do is to remove any and all addictive substances from your home. You can also be sure to avoid social gatherings where people will be using substances.
You can also start focusing on new aspects of life and find new, fun, sober activities that you can do together. It’s also important for recovering addicts to build relationships with sober friends. Encouraging best and anyway can be helpful.
Avoiding Relapse: Recognizing the Signs
Avoiding relapse is the main focus of recovery. There might be signs when someone relapses that you can spot so that you can get them help.
If you notice that the recovering addict in your life has started reconnecting with friends that abuse substances, this could be a sign of a relapse. Also if you notice that they are revisiting places that are associated with their addiction are reminiscing about the days when they were using drugs, this could be a sign.
Other potential relapse signs include losing interest in hobbies, keeping secrets, attempting to hide something, sudden changes in attitude or behavior, and no longer attending support groups or 12-step meetings.
Take Care of Yourself and Find Support
It’s important to remember that you can be the most supportive you can be when you are taking care of yourself.
It is common for loved ones of addicts to give more of themselves than is reasonably fair. They accept more than their fair share of the emotional and financial slack and attempt to be supportive of the recovering addict.
Acting this way can be incredibly draining. If you devote all of your energy and time to your loved one you can end up being neglectful of your own well-being.
This is counterproductive as it can create bitterness and resentment, which can create relationship issues between you and the recovering addict. Someone who is recovering from addiction is going to be sensitive to how the people around them are feeling. It is therefore important to take care of yourself so that you do not inadvertently add to their sense of hopelessness.
You want to make sure that you have the support you need in addition to your family member with an addiction. Supporting an addict is incredibly lonely and emotionally taxing.
Seeking out counseling, therapy, and supported activities like meditation and yoga can be incredibly helpful. Use this time as an opportunity to get to know yourself better so that you can grow in the ways that you want to. By embarking on a journey yourself towards your best possible overall well-being, you will be creating a scenario where you can be supportive in all the right ways for your loved one.
You also might find that joining dedicated support groups can help you to get through this difficult time.
Inpatient Drug Rehab: Is It Time For You or Someone You Love to Find Help?
Substance abuse disorders can threaten people’s safety and basic health as well as destroy marriages, careers, and friendships.
Luckily, though, there is help. If you or someone you love is ready to get the help you need, contact us today to discuss our inpatient drug rehab your healing journey.
