If you have someone in your family or community who is a veteran who is in addiction recovery, it’s not uncommon to want to support them but find yourself coming up short in terms of how best to do that. Sometimes, even the most well-intentioned shows of support or comments can make things worse.
So, what are the best ways to support a veteran in addiction recovery?
How to Support a Veteran in Addiction Recovery
The best ways to support a veteran in addiction recovery center on understanding addiction yourself and knowing how to identify signs of addiction or relapse in a veteran like:
- Behavioral changes
- Emotional changes
- Physical signs
- Increased anxiety
- Withdrawal
When you understand these signs, you put yourself in a better position to identify when noticeable psychological, behavioral, or physical signs might be tied to addiction and how you can encourage them during their recovery.
Choose Words Wisely
Learning how to support a veteran in addiction recovery starts with choosing your words wisely when communicating with a veteran.
Too often, especially around key holidays, people will say things like “Thank you for your service.” While this is the quintessential phrase to extend to someone in the military, it is also one steeped in psychological controversy that most people know nothing about.
Sebastian Junger authored the book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging on this very subject; when on the receiving end, no matter how well-intentioned, this phrase will often make military veterans feel uncomfortable. They don’t know how to respond, and they don’t know why they are uncomfortable.
If you know of a veteran who is struggling with addiction, you might be inclined to thank them for their service because you don’t know what else to say, but this comment further reinforces the idea that military personnel is ‘different,’ ‘other,’ or the ‘out-group’ and not technically part of American society.
This can be a trigger subconsciously or consciously for people who are in recovery as it can further remind them that they are not considered part of regular society.
Remain Positive
While you might not always know what to say, or the ‘right’ thing to do, it’s important that you remain optimistic, continuing to remind the veteran in your life that you are there to support them no matter what.
Often, someone who is struggling with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders will have access to veteran support groups and therapy, but what they need at home or from family is just someone to listen to them or someone to acknowledge their pain.
If you have a veteran in your family or in your friend group who is in recovery, exercise patience and try not to take personally some of the behavioral changes that you know are the result of addiction or the recovery process.
Know What You Can Do
When trying to support a veteran in addiction recovery, one of the best things you can do is look for treatment programs or support groups that are designed specifically for veterans.
Like the words you use, many people who are not involved in the military don’t necessarily know what to say or do to support someone who is or who was.
It can be very difficult to talk about events and circumstances pertaining to war and deployments, events and circumstances that may have contributed to or caused addiction. It can even be difficult to understand the acronyms and jargon unique to the military.
For many veterans who struggle with PTSD or addiction, working with people who have experience in the military can be one of the most refreshing and validating experiences.
Support a Veteran with the Right Level of Care at Sequoia Recovery
Sometimes, the best way you can support a veteran in addiction recovery is to recognize when your loved one might need additional support in the form of outpatient rehab. Outpatient treatment is a way for veterans to access ongoing support through things like support group meetings and sober companions.
This level of care can be accessed at any time in recovery, giving veterans a place to go if they struggle with relapse or triggers. However, not every veteran has the strength to do this on their own, and sometimes the best way to support a veteran in addiction recovery is to help them make the right choice, reach out to a treatment center, and get the care they need.