When someone you love needs to be admitted for drug or alcohol rehab, it can be a lot to process. However, this will be even more challenging for them, and your support will be critical during this time.
Knowing the best ways to support someone in rehab can be daunting in and of itself. This post will explore five practical ways that you can support your loved one by offering sympathy and understanding, as well as encouragement for them to keep going.
Get Educated
First of all, realize that there is a lot you don’t know and a lot that they might not know either. Once they have made the decision to be admitted, it’s a good idea for both of you to do a little research on what to expect from a rehab program and what the journey will look like.
On a personal level, you can also put in some work to understand their challenges by reading about the nature of addiction and the recovery process.
Offer Unconditional Support
If you have convinced your loved one to go to rehab, or they have made the decision themselves, you will really need to support them in the decision. They might experience a wide range of emotions and even physical reactions in rehab, and you’ll need to support them through it all.
Even if they face relapse, you need to avoid judgment and instead be able to provide encouragement and support on their journey to keep trying.
Attend Support Groups or Therapy
Many rehab programs encourage family members to attend group sessions and therapy alongside their loved ones. These sessions will be a great opportunity for you to learn more and offer support.
When you attend, you’ll not only be showing your commitment to them and their wellbeing, but you’ll also be showing them that they can trust you in their most vulnerable state and provide a sense of unity. Recovering addicts can often feel like they are alone, and your support in this manner can help combat this.
Create a Supportive Environment
Make sure that you make the necessary adjustments at home for your loved one’s recovery journey. This can entail basic changes, like removing triggers and temptations from the house, as well as more specific changes that might help them.
More than just the physical environment, make sure that the atmosphere at home is positive. Encourage your loved one to engage in healthy habits like regular exercise and proper nutrition, and help them to develop a strong daily routine to get back on their feet. Finally, be mindful of your own actions and words and how they might affect them.
Assist in Aftercare Planning
Remember that recovery doesn’t end in rehab, but rather it only begins there. Your loved one’s recovery journey will continue for years to come, and you can really assist them by helping them to plan for the future.
You can help them by organizing ongoing therapy after rehab and finding other useful resources that might help them. Help them build a support network and slowly create the life they want.
