Supporting a loved one or loved one through recovery can be overwhelming. You might find yourself questioning if you’re doing it right, how to support them better, or what more you can do. You can support your loved one in many ways without hindering their progress. Just remember to communicate effectively and listen to their needs.
Recovery can be a challenging process for many, especially when they return home. Being there for your loved one and listening and understanding can help them feel more relaxed. This is a journey you are both on — which requires a learning curve — and long-term happiness and recovery are achievable with love and support.
Discuss What Triggers Are and What Triggers Your Loved One Struggles With
A significant step in helping support your loved one is to understand what triggers are and which apply to your loved one. Triggers can be any kind of social, emotional, or environmental situation that resurface memories from your loved one’s past that involved active addiction. These triggers can also lead to the desire to return to drinking alcohol or using substances. Learning your loved one’s triggers can help foster an environment that makes them feel safe. Keeping triggers in mind can also help prevent your loved one from triggering situations.
When it comes to the success of long-term recovery, it is always better to catch the signs of a relapse sooner rather than later. A trigger can be a warning sign of relapse if your loved one is exposed to unsafe situations for prolonged periods. This also means you may need to make changes in your daily activities. For instance, if your loved one is not comfortable being around drinking, then it would be a good idea to avoid having a glass of wine in their presence.
Being with someone working through recovery can be hard, and at times, sacrifices must be made. But remember, this is someone you love, and for them to lead a healthier and happier life, you may need to make a few small changes. These changes may also help benefit you too, as many utilize healthy ways to improve the overall quality of life.
Create an At-Home Treatment Plan or Schedule
Another step you can take to help your loved one through recovery is to create an at-home treatment plan or schedule. An at-home treatment plan can be anything that would help your loved one with their recovery journey. Perhaps they find meditation helpful. Then schedule a time in your day to practice with them. If your loved one wants to continue with treatment methods, you can also help them find local groups, therapists, or outpatient sessions in their area. Managing this alone can overwhelm some people new to sobriety, so helping your loved one with these things can take some weight off their shoulders.
Creating a schedule can also be a great way to stay consistent at home. Consistency can be a major part of recovery. When coming up with a schedule, you can help keep daily tasks organized. If your loved one is seeing a therapist or taking part in outpatient treatment, you can also organize this. This can help keep your loved one accountable and prepared for what appointments they have coming up. A schedule is an ideal way to incorporate healthy habits and keep up to date with tasks, work, appointments, and school. When there is a schedule in place, it also leaves little room for the chance of relapse.
Communication Is Key
The most crucial part of supporting your loved one is communication. Without communication, you are unable to truly meet their needs. A good way to keep up on this is to do daily check-ins. This can be as simple as asking them how they are feeling that day.
Family therapy can also be a powerful tool to help improve communication. At Healing Pines Recovery, we offer family therapy sessions that allow you to truly understand what recovery means to your loved one. Family therapy can also help you prepare for your loved one’s return home with the guidance of a professional therapist.
Ultimately, recovery means something different to each person, so as their loved one, you have to learn and adapt to what it means to them. Building an understanding of the processes that your loved one goes through or the difficulties they face can help you be more empathetic. Recovery is not easy, and those who are going through it need all the support they can get. So long as you go in with an open mind and heart, you can learn to provide your loved one with everything they need for success.
When your loved one returns home from treatment, it can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience. A lot of the time, you’ll find your mind full of questions on whether you’re prepared enough or how to show them support. This can cause you to feel overwhelmed in the process. The best approach to keep in mind is to first take a breath and remember that communication is the key to showing your support.
At Healing Pines Recovery, we provide our clients with the support and highest quality care they need to return home. Along with preparing our clients to reacclimate to daily life, we also offer family therapy sessions that can help you feel included throughout the recovery process.
If you know someone who identifies as male and is seeking further assistance in their recovery journey, reach out to Healing Pines Recovery today at (720) 575-2621.
