The only part of rehab almost as hard as actually going into rehab is being an addict’s loved ones waiting on the outside. While the waiting game is not comparable to the hard work of actual recovery, it’s hardly an easy time, and part of that struggle is wanting to help your loved one and being unable to do so.
Yet there are ways to help an addict in the throes of treatment, even if it's only in small increments. Supporting loved ones in recovery is possible by nurturing relationships with care and understanding.
Support can start early, even before rehab begins. You may find yourself watching your loved one struggling with addiction, unable to find a way out of the labyrinth of substance abuse. Know that they need your support just as keenly then. They need to know they’re loved, and that you are unwilling to let them slip away or cut themselves off from contact.
You may need to stage an intervention to push your loved one into rehab in the first place. This can be a difficult process that can feel more harmful than helpful in the beginning, but it can be desperately necessary for many addicts to realize their need for treatment. No matter how much it seems to hurt, an intervention is a prime outreach of care and understanding, even if the addict may not see it that way initially.
Once your loved one is in rehab, it can be a difficult waiting game for you and others on the outside. You may be cut off from all contact with your loved one at the outset and even after they can contact the outside, you may be restricted to phone calls or emails. These are vastly more important than you may realize, however. For the addict, struggling alone in the program, knowing there are others waiting for them to return and that fully support their progress can be a huge boost of confidence and motivation. Even minimal outreach can result in maximum results with the right care.
The most important step, however, may be when the recovering addict emerges from rehab and begins to try and pick up the reins of their life once more.
This is when you must show your support the most. The recovering addict needs healthy connections and relationships to maintain their recovery and sobriety. They need your care and understanding at this point more than ever. They will be struggling with cravings and various psychological pressures to return to old, destructive habits and patterns that could in turn lead to relapse.
With healthy support from their loved ones, however, they can better weather such issues and in turn, better preserve their ongoing recovery.
If you’re not sure how to help the addict in your life or need some pointers on how best to continue supporting them in recovery, give Good Landing Recovery a call. They can help you better understand what your loved one is going through and what they most need from you to help their recovery endure.
A long-lasting recovery can only happen with help and support from loved ones. By nurturing relationships with care and understanding, you can better help the recovering addict in your life better maintain that recovery and build stronger connections for the future.