When a loved one enters an addiction recovery center, it can be a stressful time. Overall, it is the best situation, but it’s also the start of a long journey. So how can you support people in the center and after they leave? Read on for five tips on how to support yourself and your relatives.
Personal Education
When you have a loved one in a treatment center, the first thing you need to do is educate yourself. Broadly, there are two areas you need to educate yourself in; these are the type of drug your loved one uses and the psychology around why someone might use the drug.
Education helps you to understand the reasons behind your loved one’s addiction, but it also helps you to understand the psychology and circumstances of your loved one. The more understanding you have between you and your loved one, the more supportive you can be.
Encouragement
When someone has a drug or alcohol issue, it can be difficult for them to recognize and accept. This is the first step on the recovery journey, and it’s arguably the most important one. It can be challenging to accept the circumstances, but when they accept it, they need maximum support.
While encouragement is important, it’s also important not to be patronizing or overly sentimental. Spend some time thinking about the right words and phrases to use that offer genuine encouragement; useful phrases include things like you are not alone, and we all need help.
Communication
On the subject of communication, the way you talk to someone in a treatment center makes a significant difference in the way they feel about the recovery process. In general, you need to stay positive and encouraging, but you also need to be honest about the present and the future.
Remember, people become addicted to substances for many reasons, but underlying addiction is an emotional or psychological issue. The more you can communicate on an emotional level and discuss the situation in a supportive manner, the easier it is for your loved one to recover.
Healthy Boundaries
When you visit a friend or loved one in an addiction or recovery center, you need to find a balance in how you communicate; you need to be honest and supportive. However, close communication can lead to awkward situations from time to time, so set your boundaries.
If you visit someone in an addiction center and they request something that you are uncomfortable with, ensure you are clear about where your boundaries are; of course, that doesn’t mean you need to be cold with them; it simply means drawing appropriate lines.
Personal Health
Supporting a loved one in an addiction center can be stressful and confusing, so it’s important that you pay attention to your personal health as well. Whether you need some personal counseling to understand the situation and your role in it, or you need to destress through treatments and relaxation, don’t forget to support yourself so you can support your loved one.