When a loved one commits to enter rehab, feelings of hope emerge for their future recovery and life improvement. Oftentimes, the journey that came before this moment has been years in the making, and the tipping point feels raw. Rehab will help provide your loved one with compassionate care, qualified treatment, and therapeutic benefits, you play a role, too.
Dropping off your loved one at rehab is only the beginning of their recovery journey. Learn how to support a loved one entering rehab and how to prepare for life after their rehab stay is complete. You can help support their journey, create a haven for them to return to, and establish new norms for recovery.
1. Learn About Addiction and Recovery
You may have lived with your loved one’s addiction for years, but oftentimes, it’s a slow burn toward destruction. What may have begun as a social drinking habit has morphed into a substance abuse disorder.
When you’re living alongside an addiction, it’s difficult to grasp what issues may be beneath the surface. More often than not, you’re focused on making it through the day and compensating for your loved ones’ behavior. Now that they’ve committed to addiction treatment, you can see the silver lining that a post-treatment future promises.
It’s important to know that addiction is a disease, not a choice. While the behaviors that led to the addiction may have been a choice, the brain’s chemical makeup plays a role. Commonly, addiction is aligned with mental health challenges, and many people self-medicate with substances to cope.
Attend initial meetings with your loved one’s treatment center and ask about the methods they use to help people recover. Research the methods they convey and find out how you can support their in-treatment efforts at home.
2. Support Their Recovery Journey
By the time your loved one decides to seek treatment, you may be exhausted from years of dealing with addiction. Resist the urge to over-celebrate their decision or to offer advice or ultimatums aligned with their addiction recovery. Instead, focus on making your loved one feel safe and supported, focusing more on listening than speaking.
Encourage open communication, leaving plenty of room for them to speak freely. Try not to push for insight into their feelings, as many experience shame, guilt, and anxiety when entering drug rehab. The time away from family, friends, and work may feel like an additional weight, especially after years of addiction.
Extend love and compassion to them, supporting their choice to explore treatment options. Let them know they have your unconditional support and that you’ll be there for them during and after treatment.
3. Set Boundaries That Support Healing for All
Support is critical, but so is setting healthy boundaries for your relationship. Addiction can damage a once-healthy relationship, be it familial, romantic, or platonic. Drugs and alcohol can change the brain, making other compulsive behaviors more prevalent.
When your loved one enters alcohol rehab, consider the lifestyle challenges that addiction has presented. Consider their treatment protocol and what life looks like while they’re receiving treatment. Withdrawal can be excruciating for the person experiencing it and for those around them.
Place limits on contact to help them focus on treatment, if needed, and align visits with their treatment journey. By setting healthy boundaries, you can support their recovery and protect your wellbeing. Doing so can help prevent caregiver burnout for you and ensure you’re able to manage your responsibilities at home.
4. Work With a Therapist to Improve Your Wellbeing
You’ve likely been on an emotional rollercoaster for years, and now it’s time to get off the ride. Reach out to a therapist specializing in caregiver support and addiction. An individual with special training for those living with an addict can offer specified support that you need.
Coordinate with your loved one’s rehab center, as they may have therapists on-site or those they recommend. Find an addiction support group that connects loved ones of people battling addiction to gain a circle of support. Together, you can discuss your experiences and share tips and advice during this vulnerable time.
Take care of your physical health, too, striving to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Get help at home when you need it, too, especially if your partner is the one getting treatment. You don’t need to manage life without them alone, and your family and friends will likely want to help.
When you take care of your needs, you can provide support to your loved one in rehab. Strengthen your wellbeing so when they return, all of you are in a good place to heal and reconnect.
Supporting Another’s Healing Journey is an Act of Love
You’re involved in your loved one’s healing journey; your support can make all the difference. While your loved one is responsible for completing their rehab stay and following through with treatment, their support system matters. Educate yourself so you can understand their journey and reinforce their treatment protocol and coping skills after they return home.
Protect your mental wellbeing by strengthening your mental health, as living with a person in recovery can be challenging. Set healthy boundaries using your new skills and set expectations for your loved one to commit to healing. When you do, you’ll show the ultimate act of love by helping them honor their health and wellbeing in recovery.
