5 Ways to Help Your Loved One During Addiction Recovery
According to the National Institutes of Health, there were one million alcohol-related deaths between 1999-2017.
Is someone you love addicted to alcohol or another dangerous substance? Do you want to help them through their addiction recovery to avoid any tragedy from occurring?
This guide will offer some ways you can help your loved ones during their recovery. Keep reading to learn what you can do.
- Build Trust
While it’s hard to rebuild trust if your loved one has betrayed you as they’ve struggled with their addiction, this is one way to help someone who needs it. Your loved one might consider going to a rehabilitation center if they feel that you trust that they can change.
Understand their perspective and avoid addictive behaviors that can make them mistrust you as well.
- Create a Space for Discussion
Communication is key to helping someone through their addiction. Make sure to create a safe space where all discussions can be had with an open mind and heart.
Lecturing your loved ones about their struggles might come from a frustrating place of wanting to help but it can actually drive them further into their addiction. Staying positive through difficult conversations is the best way to help them.
- Educate Yourself on Addiction Treatment Options
Another way to help a loved one is by educating yourself on the available addiction treatment options. Treatment will vary from case to case and will change depending on the severity of your loved one’s addiction.
There are outpatient treatment plans, behavioral therapy, and 12-step programs among many others.
As your loved one progresses through treatment successfully, they’ll have the opportunity to become a sponsor. If they’re interested in learning about becoming a sponsor, you should support them through this important process.
- Take Care of Yourself Too
The rehabilitation process is difficult for the addict and their family and friends as well. Especially if you’ve taken the steps to help your loved one through their recovery, it’s important to take care of your mental health as well.
Part of the rehab process is mending relationships with family members so that the entire family can heal. Without family counseling or support groups, your loved ones won’t be able to progress in their recovery.
The best thing you can do to help them is to participate in the recovery process too.
- Show Kindness
Another piece of addiction recovery advice you should follow is showing as much kindness as you can. You might feel angry and betrayed, these are valid feelings when you have a loved one who struggles with addiction, but being critical won’t help your family member.
When you stop pointing out all their mistakes and failings and focus on the wins they’ve had during recovery, no matter how small, your loved ones will start to see a better life for themselves.
Use These Tips to Help Your Loved One During Addiction Recovery
If you want to help your family member through the addiction recovery process it’s important to follow the tips in the guide above. Learn about treatment options and offer support as they work through their program.
Check out some of the other health-related blogs on our site for more information.
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