For people undergoing addiction treatment, support from those close to them is important. While you may not be an expert on addiction and the treatments on offer, there are many ways you can support a loved one who needs treatment. The following article is going to explore the many ways you support someone who is actively using.
Help Them Follow All Treatment Recommendations
There is a selection of treatment options, including medication, individual or group therapy as well as rehab centers. It is important that as a friend or family member, you help them find the treatment that is best suited for them. By finding an option that sits well with them, their success rate is going to be higher.
Encourage Total Abstinence
You can support your loved one’s abstinence by encouraging them to stay away from social situations that might expose them to temptation. This may mean boycotting events that will have an open bar or heavy drinking involved such as weddings. Replace these activities for sober ones instead, though, so that they do not feel like they are missing out.
Help Them Manage Their Stress
Stress is going to be a big part of their recovery, and it’s not always possible to avoid it. Therefore, you can help them manage their stress by being there for them when they need someone to talk to. Help them develop effective coping strategies and solve practical problems that are causing them stress.
Keep Them Active
You can support your loved one's recovery by helping them discover a new sense of purpose. Their addiction will have become a major part of their life, so they need to find something to replace it. If they can find some meaningful activities to fill their time with, it will motivate them to stay sober. For instance, encourage them to take up a new hobby, go back to school and learn a new skill, take part in a community or charity event, or find a job that they enjoy.
Attend Family Programs
Your loved one doesn’t have to struggle with their addiction on their own. Nowadays, more and more treatments offer opportunities for family support, and by including family members, they can be more understanding as to why someone may have a substance use disorder. They can also develop better copy mechanisms for when their loved one need advice.
Stop Enabling Behavior
You might not realize it, but you may have been enabling their addiction. If so, you need to know how to stop this kind of behavior. If your loved one is saying they want to end their treatment, provide the support they need to continue rather than allowing them to opt out. You need to remain strong for them, stress that they are doing the right thing and encourage them to continue with their treatment.
Recovery from addiction is a long-term process, and if you can give them all the support possible, they will be able to continue with their new sober lifestyle.
