You always want the best for your loved ones. No one on the planet wants to see the important people in their lives in miserable conditions. It’s disheartening to see your family or friends go through a rough patch in their life, and if that happens, the first question that comes to your mind is: how can I help?
If someone in your family or friends has gone through addiction or substance use disorder, you must’ve felt that it changed your family dynamics. The whole family suffers because of one person, and major lifestyle changes are required. While family and home environment can be among the many factors that exacerbate drug use, a good support system of family and friends plays just as much of a crucial role on the road to recovery.
If you are finding ways to help your loved one during recovery, then we are here to help. Explained below are six ways to provide support to create a safe and encouraging environment for sustained recovery.
1. Get Professional Help
The first step is to make your loved one understands the importance of getting help. Rehab centers can assist with recovery in many ways and provide an optimum level of care. Get them enrolled in the addiction treatment center. You can choose from a diverse range of addiction treatment facilities, Serenity at Summit addiction being one. They specialize in detox and residential treatments that proved quite effective during recovery. The treatments are personalized to patients’ needs and the severity of the addiction.
Additionally, these treatment facilities help the clients by educating them and giving proper counseling. According to research, people suffering from addiction disorders have a high chance of being diagnosed with mental health concerns. Therapy can help address any underlying concerns. Moreover, addiction treatment centers help people learn about healthy practices and habits to prevent relapses and sustain sobriety for a long time.
Rehab and addiction treatment centers also provide a home-like environment, giving clients and residents a safe environment to escape from emotional and personal problems and find solutions to deal with those problems. Most places also provide outpatient treatment facilities, which offer more flexibility and are convenient for people with mild drug dependency.
2. Educate Yourself
You never know enough about a certain disease or problem until people in your circle experience it. One of the best ways to show support is by educating yourself about these issues. The better aware you are, the better support you will offer. Relapses are very common when people are in recovery. Learn about how to help them go through relapse, treatment, medications, therapy.
As David Ogden Stiers has said, “Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” So always be there for them. Use kind words during communication and be non-judgmental.
The recovery and detox process can be extremely overwhelming for patients, often leading to setbacks. Understand that this isn’t the time to scold them; there’s a time and place for accountability, and this isn’t it. Dredging up the past or rehashing their mistakes can worsen the case.
You can be part of support groups or join in on family therapy and discuss everything there. You can also take help from the internet on how to talk to people about their addiction or join professional programs that can help you improve your communication skills and provide insight about your own biases toward addiction.
3. Motivate Them to Join Self-Help Groups
Self-help or support groups play a vital role in the recovery journey. These groups are designed to provide a safe space for people with substance use disorders. Different people suffering from the same problem sit together and discuss their stories. Your loved one can meet new people who are willing to give up on addiction and draw inspiration from their journey.
Support groups provide encouragement and moral support. Individuals discuss their experiences, coping strategies, and how they managed recovery. This is also beneficial in helping build social networks where people can be friends outside the support group and encourage each other to practice healthy habits.
4. Reduce Stress
Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that managing stress is one of the most important aspects of preventing relapse. While you cannot completely ignore it, there are ways to manage stress.
Besides therapy, there are different stress-relieving techniques. Help your loved one develop those and practice with them. These include practicing yoga, maintaining a proper sleep schedule, spending quality time together indoors and outdoors, indulging in some fun activities, and most importantly, making sure your home has a stress-free and welcoming environment.
5. Do Activities Together and Provide Social Support
Developing and practicing healthy habits is crucial for living a balanced life. Taking part in healthy activities helps people stay stable. You can help your loved ones find hobbies if they don’t already have any and encourage them to have a healthy lifestyle.
Cooking, swimming, hiking, and painting are easy and sustainable hobbies to adopt. You can also encourage them to participate in any volunteer work and network to broaden their social circle. Engaging in such activities can help them stay sober.
According to research, poor social support has been linked to addiction. Getting social support from family helps a lot during recovery. Help your loved one find a sense of purpose. Be a good listener, encourage them to do well, build their confidence, and be there for them. Most importantly, show your trust in them.
6. Give Them Hope
Never let the hope of someone who is in recovery die. It takes a lot of motivation to complete a goal. People don’t respond to treatment if they feel hopeless. Just saying that you believe in them will keep them going. Change is possible. As your loved one is going through recovery, some words of encouragement can go a long way.
Make them believe that change is possible because people going through recovery think they can never change and will eventually relapse no matter what. Your positive words can inspire them to commit to sobriety even when they are on the verge of giving up.
In the end, don’t forget to take care of yourself or ask for help whenever you need it. Looking after someone going through recovery can emotionally drain you as well.
The Bottom Line
Addiction recovery is a slow process and takes a lot of time. You have to be very patient while dealing with someone going through recovery. Stability is difficult to achieve, but it’s not impossible. Be hopeful and keep the ones around you as well.
There is no easy way to help your loved one during recovery. Take little steps and reach out for help if necessary. However, above mentioned are a few ways that can be taken into account if you want to support someone during recovery.
