If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction and trying to get help, it can fill you with apprehension when you don’t know how to best support them. You might worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and making a situation worse or not knowing how to help them most effectively at different stages in recovery.
Supporting loved ones in recovery looks different depending on the stage of their recovery journey. Whatever you do should come from a place of love and care, and even if you don’t know the right thing to do or say, you can still make a profound impact. Studies indicate that individuals in recovery who have the support of their family members are more likely to complete their programs and maintain long-term sobriety, so no matter what level of support you can give, you can make a difference.
Sequoia Recovery Centersss is a drug and alcohol detox center in Spokane, WA, that offers multiple levels of care to help your loved one succeed in their recovery. Continue reading to see how we can help you support your loved one in recovery.
Supporting Loved Ones in Recovery While In Treatment
The first stage where you might need to support your loved ones is while they are actually in treatment. This will look different if they are in an inpatient program or an outpatient program.
Inpatient Treatment
At Sequoia Recovery Centersss’ inpatient drug rehab in Washington, your loved one will have access to things like an on-site pharmacy, private rooms, and catering services. During their stay, there will be designated times when they may not be in contact with you, but keeping them in your thoughts can go a long way toward aiding in their recovery because they know that their family has not forgotten about them.
Once they have made it through treatment services such as detox and they are able to connect with family again, regular phone calls where you offer moral support or emotional support can help your family members when they are struggling with day-to-day aspects of their initial recovery journey.
If your family members are staying with an inpatient program for several months, you can show support with:
- Phone calls
- Letters
- Visits
- Participation in family therapy when appropriate
Outpatient Treatment
With outpatient programs like our outpatient rehab in Spokane, your loved one may only participate in a program that lasts a couple of weeks, and during that time, they will return home after daily sessions. Providing support at this time, whether this is their first level of care or they have transitioned after an inpatient program, could look like:
- Calling or texting to check in on them if they don’t live with you
- Offering rides to or from appointments
- Attending family therapy when appropriate
- Using appropriate language at home
- Removing all drug paraphernalia or sources of stress from the home
- Engaging in self-care practices with a loved one after sessions, like meditation, yoga, or going for a walk
Supporting Loved Ones in Recovery After Treatment
After treatment, supporting loved ones in recovery long-term takes a slightly different approach. During these stages, the ways you can help your family members will vary. Support should be highly personalized for each family and might change depending on where they are in their recovery.
For example, someone who has made it through a treatment program for alcoholism might need support from their family members. For their family, this could look like agreeing to avoid any alcohol consumption at family get-togethers, keeping alcohol out of the house, or avoiding drinking when out at restaurants.
In another example, someone who is struggling with a relapse during their recovery might benefit the most from family members who show their support by not enabling them. In this example, supporting loved ones in recovery might mean not allowing them to use your car even though they claim that they need to borrow it to go to the grocery store. If you know that they are at risk of making an unexpected stop and acquiring something they shouldn’t, offer to go to the grocery store with them, have their groceries ordered online and dropped off at the house, or bring them groceries yourself.
How to Learn More About Supporting Loved Ones
No matter which stage your loved ones are in on their path to sobriety, you, as a family member or close friend, can always learn new ways to offer support. That support may include attending family therapy or support group meetings.
Programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous offer support groups specifically for family members whose loved ones are in treatment or in recovery. Treatment centers like Sequoia Recovery Centersss incorporate family therapy into recovery programs where family members can learn many things, such as:
- How to best speak with one another
- How to communicate effectively
- How to offer emotional support
- How to recognize symptoms of relapse
Overall, supporting your loved ones while they are in recovery is a lifelong journey, not just for them but for you as well. If you are unsure about the best ways to support your loved one, don’t be afraid to ask them what type of support they think they need or to utilize third-party services like family therapy and support groups to learn as much as you can about recovery. Remember that support should always come from a place of love, and in doing so, you can help your family members the most.
If you want to learn more about supporting your loved ones and finding the right treatment program for them, contact Sequoia Recovery Centersss at 866-824-0709.
