Supporting a Loved One During Recovery

Navigating the recovery process can be difficult for both the person undergoing recovery and their loved ones. Recovery can present new physical challenges as well as emotional hurdles. Often, the recovery process is also a period of repairing damage caused during an extended period of addiction.

Repairing and rebuilding relationships, along with forming new bonds, is an integral aspect of addiction recovery. It is important to understand that recovery is not a “one-size fits all” process, but rather a journey that is as unique as every individual that undertakes it. Because of this, the following tips are a general effort to provide guidance that may or may not apply to your specific situation.

Communication is key

Having strong communication skills is an important foundation to any healthy relationship. This is particularly true when your loved one is going through the recovery process. Maintaining open and honest channels of communication is an important way to support your loved one and strengthen the bond between you.

Open communication helps your loved one feel safe enough to share where they are in their recovery process. It also allows them to be vulnerable when discussing potential difficulties or setbacks they may be experiencing during recovery. Communication can help your loved one recognize negative patterns or emotions that crop up during recovery.

Recognizing these patterns or emotions can help them seek out alternative means of dealing with emotions, and guide them towards forming healthier lifestyle routines. Both of these are critical to ensuring the success of any recovery program.

Be open to supporting the addict in your life

Many people who are currently going through recovery have faced addiction in the past. Sometimes those coping with an addiction have failed to completely recover or made promises they have failed to keep or could not keep in the first place. Rebuilding trust after addiction is perhaps the most challenging aspect of helping an addict during recovery.

However, it is important to remember, in order for the addict in your life to have the greatest chance of success in their recovery, it is necessary that they have unwavering support from loved ones. Being mindful of past failures is acceptable, but also be open to treating this effort to recovery as a new experience.

This can be a difficult undertaking for you and can test the bonds of your love. However, being mindful of the previous tip: maintaining open and honest communication can help you to navigate this process.

Build a support system for yourself

As the saying goes: no one is an island. No one person can hope to be the sole supporter of someone in recovery. Often, supporting an alcoholic or drug addict in recovery can be taxing. In order to give them the best support possible, you must also be sure that you have your own support system in place.

Friends, other loved ones, and relatives can all help give you the support you need to cope with loving an addict. Having a person or multiple people in your life that you can lean on for support during difficult times can give you the strength you need to see your loved one go through the recovery process. Your support system can also give you guidance, and even teach you how to help an addict throughout recovery.

Learn about the recovery process

There are many paths to long-term recovery. Spend some time to learn about the recovery process, and the specific path your loved one is taking to break the cycle of addiction. Being knowledgeable about the process will help you feel in the loop as your loved one progresses through their recovery. It will also give you a base of knowledge from which you can discuss recovery.

The recovery process is difficult – being knowledgeable about the process will convey to your loved one that you understand what they are going through. Being knowledgeable about the recovery process also enables you to spot potential setbacks or pitfalls as your loved one goes through recovery.

Knowledge about the path to recovery will both allow you to recognize if your loved one is returning to old patterns, while also giving you the foresight to guide your loved one to making beneficial and helpful life choices.

Actively engaging in the recovery process of your loved one along with the aforementioned tips provides the best benefit. There is perhaps no better way to support your loved one on their path to recovery. Engagement with the process is also the most effective way to determine how successful the recovery is going, and improve the odds of success for your loved one.

Having an engaged, informed, and communicative loved one can be a valuable asset of support and strength for the addict in your life. Learning about the recovery process, including speaking to professionals and staff in the recovery program your loved one is enrolled in, will empower you to stay informed, while also giving you a foundation of knowledge.

Having this foundation can open new avenues of communication, and will demonstrate to your loved one that you understand what they are going through. Engagement with the recovery process demonstrates to the addict in your life that you care about their future and invested in their success. At the same time, it is important for you to ensure that you are taking care of yourself.

Building up a strong support system can alleviate some of the stress and emotional fatigue that can arise through supporting an addict in recovery. Having others to rely on for support will allow you to be more available for support and guidance for the addict in your life. Helping an addict in recovery can be a balancing act, but with the right tools, knowledge, and mindset, it can be an uplifting and positive experience.

If you or someone you love needs advice or guidance to help an addict, call 888-481-4481 to speak to a medical professional at Casa Palmera.

Disclaimer


This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique, and this content is to provide an overall understanding of substance use disorders. These disorders are very complex, and this post does not take into account the unique circumstances for every individual. For specific questions about your health needs or that of a loved one, seek the help of a healthcare professional.