Best Ways To Support a Recovering Addict
Addiction is a dreaded word in every household. Helping a recovering addict can be a scary and dramatic process. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Get Informed
One of the best ways to support a recovering addict is to try to understand them. Do your diligence by reading up on everything you can related to the addiction.
Learn about where the drug comes from and the names for it. Investigate how it impacts the body and how it hooks people. Learn what the side effects are between fixes and what early recovery looks like. Understand the types of treatment and what to expect with rehab.
The more knowledge you can arm yourself with, the less confused and upset you’ll be when your loved one seems to act differently from how you knew them.
Remain Patient
Anyone that has not gone through addiction has a hard time understanding what’s happening. Furthermore, in a reality of instant gratification, progress towards recovery can seem tedious.
We erroneously equate seeing a doctor with becoming cured. Both the physical and psychological impacts of addictions take a long and hard battle to control. More so, freedom from addiction is a lifetime dedication.
Support a Sober Lifestyle
In addition to being patient with them, our family member or friend also needs a safe place to engage in sobriety. Removing addictive substances from the home is key.
Just because someone else in the home doesn’t have a problem with a substance—say, alcohol—doesn’t mean they should make a habit of drinking beer in front of the recovering individual. This can be very destructive, as addiction is not just a simple game of willpower. Finding new sober activities and entertainment is also key for the same reasons.
Do Not Be Afraid To Ask for Help
Getting yourself help is one of the best ways to support a recovering addict. While the focus is almost always on the recovering individual, we sometimes forget about ourselves. How can we expect to provide meaningful support when we can barely stand on our own?
There’s no shame in seeking counseling and other avenues of support designed to assist family members and friends of a struggling addict. This can help guide family members through the thorny patches of the recovery process.
