How To Support A Family
Member Who Is Recovering
From Addiction?
Addiction is a complex illness that affects individuals and their loved
ones. It is essential that a person recovering from addiction has a
supportive and understanding environment all the time. This article
will outline efficient ways of helping someone who is dear to you and
recovering from any type of addiction.
Understanding the Concept of
Addiction: Creating a Comforting
Atmosphere
Before extending any assistance, it is essential to realize what
addiction is. Substance use disorder is a long-term relapsing illness
characterized by compulsive behaviors. In drug and alcohol addiction,
people often consume excessive amount of alcohol and drugs even
after knowing their harmful consequences. It is a condition that
requires the intervention of a professional in order to heal.
1. Prioritize Patience:
Healing is a process that takes time. Do not rush your loved ones and
don’t expect quick solutions. All your help should be given
generously but with a lot of patience.
2.
Draw Some Boundaries:
When it comes to helping your loved ones who are recovering from
addiction, it is important to draw some lines. Do not aid their
addiction by giving them any help or covering up what they are
doing.
3.
Practice Listening:
When your loved one wants to speak, please listen to them actively.
Do not cut them off or pass negative judgment on how they feel.
Instead, listen with all your heart and offer help without any
judgment.
4.
Avoid Negative Feelings
Forgive your loved one for being an addict. Because stimulating the
negative feelings will only worsen things and make it harder for a
recovering addict to recover. Focus instead on giving support and
encouragement. .
5.
Research And Enhance Your Knowledge
Do some research about addiction recovery on your own. With this
knowledge, you can provide better care for the individual and
understand what that individual has gone through.
Encourage Professional Help:
Encourage the Seeking of Professional
Help:
Encourage your family members to seek professional services such as
counseling, therapy, or a rehabilitation program. These are some of
the tools needed for long-term healing.
Family Therapy:
Family therapy will help to handle the emotional and relational
components that come with an addiction recovery process. It can
also give some insight on how you can help your loved one during
the process.
Support and Participate Their
Treatment:
Actively support your loved one in their treatment program. Attend
support groups, meetings and family therapy sessions to show that
you are committed to their recovery.
Coping With Relapse:
Relapses are quite common in the process of healing from drug and
alcohol addiction. Empathy and understanding will be important
when dealing with a loved one who relapsed.
•
Avoid Negative Responses. Do not criticize your family member,
make them feel inferior, or withdraw your support from him.
Rather, help them and encourage them.
•
Seek Professional Help. If a loved one experiences relapse,
motivate him or her to seek professional help in order to
address any underlying triggers or barriers that may have
caused the extent of the relapse.
•
Prevention is Better than Cure. Discuss with your loved one
relapse prevention strategies and encourage them to strive
towards stopping themselves from relapsing in the future.
Take Care For Yourself First:
In addition to taking care of a recovering addict, you have to take
care of your own physical and psychological well-being as well.
•
Find a support group or people who understand what you are
going through
•
Attend family counseling sessions that help family members
who are supporting an individual who is undergoing an
addiction treatment program.
•
Engaging in hobbies, working out, and spending time with
family or doing activities that are good for health.
A Blend Of Support, Self Care, And
Patience Is Required
Caring for someone who is recovering from addiction requires
patience, kindness, and commitment to one’s family member’s wellbeing. You can encourage your loved one in the process of
rehabilitation by maintaining positive relationships, seeking
professional help, coping with relapses, and, most importantly,
looking after yourself.