Addiction is a terrible way to go through life. This is an affliction thousands of people suffer each year. And while many resolve to escape the grip of addiction on their lives, many others do not.
For those who do seek recovery at a rehab facility, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done after rehab. Make no mistake, there’s nothing easy about the recovery process. In fact, your time spent in rehab is only the beginning.
In this article, we take a look at supporting an addict through their recovery and the challenges they will face. Keep reading to learn all the important facts.
Be Willing to Listen
When an addict is in the midst of recovery, this can be a very confusing time for them. Addiction has a huge impact on the mind and body, and thus takes a toll both mentally and physically.
Therefore one of the best things you can do for a loved one going through recovery is to simply be there to listen. Even if you’re unable to relate to their situation, being a good listener is a gift.
The addict will likely want to talk about their experience. So if the time comes when they feel ready to open up, try to just be there for them at that moment, just to be an empathetic ear when they need you most.
Try to Provide a Stable Environment
More than anything, an addict needs a stable environment. Stress and chaos aren’t supportive conditions for recovery.
If an addict will be living with you during part of the recovery process, try to keep you home as stable and free of drama as possible. The environment needs to be free of drugs and alcohol, as well as any other substances that might trigger the addict.
Keep in mind that addiction is a very fragile condition, and thus even the smallest things can make it difficult for a person in recovery to maintain their focus and resist the impulse to relapse.
Encourage Healthy Habits
There is an old edict that says, how you do anything is how you do everything. That’s why it’s so crucial for a recovering addict to fill their lives with positive and healthy habits.
This includes everything from the foods they eat, to the people they choose to spend time with, to the amount of quality sleep they get, and even the types of TV programs and movies they choose to watch. In other words, every facet of life is important.
As someone supporting an addict, you need to encourage a lifestyle and behavior that reflects their recovery effort. After all, a successful recovery is nearly impossible when the effort is merely half-hearted.
Be Patient
You will also need to be patient. After all, successful recovery won’t happen overnight. Every day will present new challenges and new temptations. Recovery happens one step at a time, one day at a time, and even one minute at a time.
There are no shortcuts. You might feel frustrated by an addict’s slow progress, but you have to be as patient as possible. Just do your best to love them unconditionally and be there for them when they need you.
Accept Them Without Judgement
An important part of creating a stable environment is to avoid judgment. An addict will be experiencing a lot of internal conflicts, thus they don’t need to hear critiques or criticisms from those around them.
We encourage you to work on accepting the addict in your life without judgment. This will help them heal in a more healthy and productive way.
Encourage Them to Join a Support Group
Every addict going through recovery needs support. And yet you can’t do it all yourself. They need to spend time with peers who can relate to them and offer the kind of support that only other addicts are able to give.
Keep in mind that the power of addiction isn’t easy to understand if you’ve never gone through it yourself. When an addict has struggles, they need to be able to reach out to those who share the same struggle. This is why addiction support groups play such a valuable roll in the recovery process.
Many addicts find it necessary to go to meetings multiple times each week, and often each day. These groups provide crucial mentorship and sponsors who can help the addict in your life find the strength to make it even through the darkest of times.
You might also want to encourage them to consider getting help from outpatient rehab centers.
Develop Healthy Boundaries
One of the hardest things to do in any relationship is to establish healthy boundaries. But, boundaries are incredibly important for creating and maintaining healthy relationships.
After all, each person is responsible for their own happiness and well-being. This can be especially difficult to remember when dealing with an addict, but firm boundaries can make all the difference as they follow the path toward recovery from their disease.
Be Prepared for Relapse
Never take the possibility of relapse for granted. Recovery is a tough process, with plenty of stumbling blocks looming along the road. Your loved one could relapse at any moment, so just try to prepare yourself to watch them start the recovery process over again and again.
Provide Unconditional Love
The key to supporting the addict in your life is to simply offer unconditional love. That doesn’t mean enabling their disease or having weak borderings or letting them walk over you. It means showing them you love them, even if that has to be from a distance as you let them stumble, fall, and start over again.
Important Things to Remember About Recovery After Rehab
Recovery from addiction isn’t a one-step process. There’s plenty of work left to be done after rehab. The advice contained in this article can make the process a bit more manageable.
Be sure to check out our website for more valuable information about the recovery process.