Supporting Loved Ones Through the Recovery Process
Addiction can be a very isolating disease. The addiction recovery process can be filled with many ups and downs. That’s why it’s important that recovering people with an addiction have all the support they can get to help them safely and effectively overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety.
At Arista Recovery, we are a leading addiction recovery center in the Midwest that’s here to help you lead a healthier, happier quality of life. We offer a range of treatment programs so you can receive the unique care you need to best support your recovery. Ready to break free of addiction once and for all? Contact us today!
How to Support A Loved One During Addiction Recovery
Sometimes, supporting loved ones through addiction treatment can be confusing. Below are several ways you can support your family member or friend as they progress along their recovery journey.
Learn More About Addiction and Addiction Recovery
If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, you’re not alone. Millions of people struggle with drug addiction. Education is critical to supporting loved ones through recovery. It’s important you educate yourself about addiction and better understand that addiction is a disease. It’s also important to learn about addiction recovery so you can set realistic expectations. Addiction recovery does not happen overnight. Nor does overcoming addiction guarantee you’ll be sober for the rest of your life. Addiction recovery is a lifelong journey filled with many ups and downs.
Encourage a Safe Space for Honest Conversations
Once you’ve educated yourself about addiction, it’s important to encourage a safe, judgment-free space to talk with your loved one and show support as they progress through the recovery process. The addiction recovery process can be difficult. From overcoming uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms to learning healthy coping strategies, your loved one can significantly benefit from your support and being able to talk openly about their recovery.
Understand Addiction Recovery Is Life-Long
As previously discussed, it’s essential you manage your expectations as you support your loved one in progressing through the recovery process. Sometimes, people will think that overcoming addiction is the final straw to beating addiction, but this is not necessarily the case. Maintaining sobriety is a life-long journey; therefore, it’s important to understand addiction recovery is a life-long journey. Knowing this, if you ever find your loved one struggling with old cravings to abuse, you can consider recommending them to seek support from outpatient programs or support groups.
Celebrate Your Loved One’s Wins
It’s critical you celebrate your loved one’s wins as they progress through the addiction recovery process. This will show your support and that you are proud of how far your loved one has come on their road to recovery. Whether it’s their first month of sobriety or five years into their sobriety, it’s important to tell your loved one recovering from addiction how proud you are of staying sober.
Provide Support For Your Loved One When Needed
Addiction recovery is filled with many ups and downs. Just because your loved one overcame addiction doesn’t mean they won’t encounter tough times and old triggers that may jeopardize their sobriety. During these rough patches, it’s important to provide support so your loved one has someone to lean on to get through these tough times rather than going back to old habits like abusing drugs or alcohol.
Continue to Be Supportive, Even If They Relapse
Last but not least, it’s important to understand that relapsing is common. In fact, about 40-60% of recovering people with a substance use disorder who receive substance use treatment will relapse. Knowing this, it’s critical you continue to be supportive of your loved one, even if they potentially relapse. The last thing you want is to judge your loved one for falling victim to addiction again.
Top-Rated Midwest Treatment Center
The addiction recovery process can be filled with many ups and downs. Just because a recovering addict can overcome their addiction doesn’t mean the road to maintaining sobriety will be easy. Supporting loved ones through recovery and beyond is crucial to help them achieve long-term sobriety. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s essential you seek professional support to break free of your addiction safely.At Arista Recovery, we are a leading drug rehab that’s helped many patients safely overcome their addictions. Our compassionate team of addiction specialists is here to help you every step of the way to take back control of your life for the better. Contact us today to learn how to break free of addiction.