As a spouse, friend, or family member of a recovering person, you may be excited to start a new life with your loved one. Even so, helping someone in recovery can be difficult at times. You may be dealing with difficult emotions and stressors of your own. You may also have a lot to learn about addiction and recovery in order to effectively help your loved one.
All of these factors, in addition to keeping up with your own responsibilities and self-care, can seem like a lot.What most people expect when their loved one returns home after rehab is for life to go back to the way it was before the addiction. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Recovery from addiction is a long and difficult process that requires ongoing support and dedication from both the recovering person and their loved ones. For the vast majority of people who are addicted to alcohol, the first big decision they must make is to be willing to seek treatment for their addiction.
Think of rehabilitation as an incubator that protected your loved one from the outside environment as you began the process of recovering from addiction. It's tempting to think that since rehab is over and your loved one has returned home, you can forget about addiction and move on with your life.Too often, addicts are recycled through drug rehabilitation treatment centers across the country, where they receive the fundamentals of recovery, but little else. Your recognition of the seriousness of the addiction and your desire to support your loved one during the transition from home rehabilitation are a good start.When an addict comes home from rehab, it's important to remember that they are still in recovery and need ongoing support. Here are some tips for helping your loved one adjust to life after rehab:
- Be patient.
Recovery is a long process and it will take time for your loved one to adjust to life after rehab.
- Encourage healthy habits. Help your loved one establish healthy habits such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep.
- Provide emotional support. Be there for your loved one when they need someone to talk to or just need a hug.
- Set boundaries. It's important to set boundaries with your loved one so that they know what is expected of them.
- Be understanding.
Addiction is a serious illness and it will take time for your loved one to adjust to life without drugs or alcohol.
