Picture from Pexels
Rehabilitation is integral to recovery for many people struggling with addiction or substance abuse. During this process, it is often challenging to be a loved one, especially if the person you care about has not been forthcoming about their addiction and treatment. Getting them into treatment is the first step to recovery, but helping them through the process can be an uphill battle. The hardest part of rehabilitation is often the daily struggle with addiction that can make the person battling it feel down and hopeless. You might sometimes be tempted to give up or give into your loved one’s emotional or physical needs without concern for their health. The six steps below can help you stay the course and guide your loved one in recovery.
1. Demonstrate Empathy
Being forced into treatment can be a challenging, emotional experience. Ensure your loved one is aware of your concern for them and desire to help. Let them know you are there if they need to talk. Simply trying to understand their situation can make a big difference in your relationship, especially if they have been reluctant to share their problems. Knowing that your concerns for them don’t sideline them, but you are concerned about their health, helps them to feel a sense of control over their situation.
2. Help your loved one create a sober peer network
The kind of company one keeps can significantly impact their sobriety. If you can help your loved one socialize with people with a sober perspective, the chances of their remaining straight can be dramatically increased. Creating a circle that positively reinforces sobriety can be challenging for your loved one, and as someone who cares about their health and happiness, you can make it easier. Consider inviting them to activities that develop and support their abstinence, forcing them to interact with other people who are similarly trying to beat addiction.
3. Know the signs of relapse
Mental health disorders, like addiction and substance abuse, are chronic conditions always in some stage of recovery. Relapse is a common characteristic of these disorders, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for signs of one occurring. Understanding relapse symptoms can help you intervene before your loved one takes the first step back toward addiction. Look for signs of anxiety, mood changes, and physical health problems that can be telltale signs that they are beginning to use again. Dealing with these early signs of relapse and stopping them before they start will help your loved one to avoid a full-scale relapse.
4. Create accountability for the treatment program
Creating an accountability system can be a great way to stay on course and help someone struggling with addiction remain abstinent. Creating a system where people are held responsible for their actions can help your loved one stay accountable and motivated throughout their treatment. Self-assessment exercises help recognize problem areas that may lead to a relapse, and knowing you will have to answer for these issues can help your loved one remain focused on the treatment process. Focusing on these behaviors and creating a system for dealing with them is an integral part of the recovery process.
5. Find ways to stimulate their physical health
Physical health is vital to keeping your loved one healthy throughout rehabilitation. Working out, playing sports, and engaging in physical activity are beneficial ways to get someone struggling with addiction on the right track physically. Some people find that regular gym attendance helps them stay sober, while others prefer just being active in their daily lives. Regardless of your loved one’s needs, find a way to help them focus on their overall health. Eating healthy and getting plenty of sleep are simple changes that can make a big difference for someone struggling to stay sober.
6. Help your loved one follow all treatment recommendations
Re-occurring and severe problems can often result from a lack of communication between the patient and the treatment center. A professional drug and alcohol treatment center in Scranton PA, can help your loved one stay on the right track throughout their treatment. Help your loved one stick to their treatment plan by ensuring they understand all that is required. If they have trouble following through with their program, you may need to find a new treatment center that can provide you both with the answers you need. Don’t let resistance or apathy derail your loved one’s recovery as they go through the program. Avoiding these pitfalls is crucial to your loved one’s health and long-term recovery.
Ensuring your loved one’s health and well-being through recovery is as important as the recovery itself. Following these steps can help you to stay on track throughout the rehabilitation process. Seeking professional advice from a therapist or counselor with experience with addiction and the treatment process can also be extremely helpful for the patient and those around them. Remember that your loved one is doing their best, and take every step possible to ensure they get the help they need.
