How Family Members can Support the Recovering Addict
Recovering addicts need to have their family for support.
Do you have a loved one who is recovering from drug or alcohol addiction? Addiction has been known to cause significant strains on families and can be a very difficult situation to deal with. When a family member is recovering from addiction there are some things that you can do to help out and support the recovery efforts of a loved one.
Recent studies have found that those recovering from addiction have a significantly better chance of maintaining sobriety when they are supported at home. The family members and relationships that recovering addicts have with their loved ones can help them to readjust to the demands of recovery and to remaining sober. Here’s a look at what you can do as a family member of someone who is currently in recovery from addiction.
Become Educated
First, start by educating yourself on the addiction and the recovery process. Many rehab centers provide programs for family members to learn more about addiction, the recovery process and how they can help their loved ones to maintain their sobriety. Education is the key to addiction prevention and it’s also the key to helping family members post addiction so don’t hesitate to learn all you can about the addiction your loved one is suffering from. Become an advocate for their sobriety.
Seek Support
Just like the recovering addict needs support from their friends and family members as well as various community based support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, the family members of those in recovery can also benefit from support. Family support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon can be very beneficial at helping you to cope with the physical and emotional stress that comes with supporting a recovering addict. Additionally, when a family member seeks support, the recovering addict is more likely to seek similar services such as aftercare and recovery support groups.
Provide a Sober Environment
Another thing that you can do to support the recovering addict is to provide a sober environment for them to stay in. If you like to drink, consider not doing so when your loved one who is in recovery is around as an added means of support. If you cannot provide a sober environment, consider helping the family member to make the transition from treatment to a sober living home. Help them find a place to live, a job and support their recovery efforts to the best of your ability by providing help for daily requirement such as childcare and transportation.
Recognize Relapse
Relapse is a common outcome for nearly every recovering addict at some point so it’s important that as a supportive family member you recognize the signs of relapse. If relapse does occur, be prepared to intervene as quickly as possible and provide assistance to get the loved one back on track. This may include placing them back into treatment, having them follow up with a counselor or therapist or providing them with other means of support to get them back on track with their recovery efforts.
When dual diagnosis—the presence of an additional condition along with an addiction—is a factor in someone’s addiction, their treatment plan should take it into account. Residential treatment centers often modify their treatment plans in the case of dual diagnosis, which you should keep in mind as you call . If you have a dual diagnosis,….
What is a Christian Rehab Center and How Does it Help? Drug and alcohol addiction negatively impacts the lives of millions of Americans every year. Addiction is a life-long disease, that can be treated, but it is never fully cured. A person will struggle with their addiction periodically throughout their life even after receiving treatment,….
Opiate addiction is one of the most serious substance abuse disorders affecting the country today; millions are abusing both illicit and prescription-based opioid drugs. In order to make a change and put an end to your opioid abuse, call now to find rehab centers that will provide safe, reliable care and to find out how….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug abuse and addiction have many dimensions, and they disrupt many aspects of an individual’s life. Because of this treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs have to incorporate many components, which are each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment….
Are you addicted to drugs and/or alcohol? Have you decided that the best way to overcome your trouble is to seek treatment at a rehabilitation center? If you answered yes to these questions, you are not ready to move forward just yet. There are other details to consider, such as which rehabilitation center is right….
The holiday season is a very stressful and lonely time for many people according to the Mayo Clinic. It is also a time for many to be merry, drink, and overindulge in just about everything. Unfortunately, for some this means drugs and alcohol. It is very difficult to find a holiday party or gathering that….
Free rehab facilities can be found all over the country, and patients who would otherwise not be able to afford inpatient rehab (or even outpatient rehab) can benefit from this treatment. There are also many facilities which do not offer completely free treatment but allow patients to pay either on a sliding scale or a….
Alcohol abuse has a way of progressing along, all on its own, gradually diminishing a person’s ability to control his or her intake. Before long, excess drinking brings on blackout episodes that increase in frequency and duration over time. The holiday season in particular offers any number of opportunities to engage in drinking behaviors, allowing….
Various types of therapy are provided by rehab centers for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The most common types of therapy include individual therapy, fitness therapy, group therapy and various specialty therapy sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Some therapy sessions will also include the ability for family members to participate with the….
For some people, addiction has to reach the brink of disaster before they realize that it’s time for help. For others, the addiction may result in premature death before help is ever even sought. So, how bad does your addiction have to be before you seek help at a drug rehab center? It depends on your individual needs,….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
