Watching a friend or loved one go through the throes of addiction is never easy. Substance abuse can transform a person, leading to broken relationships and pain all around. It’s a challenging situation to navigate.
In this article, we’ll go over a few ways you can be an ally who supports and encourages recovery.
Build Trust
Establishing trust from the jump is paramount. That can be a tall order if your loved one has already betrayed your confidence due to addiction. However, it’s a crucial step in the process.
Let the person you’re supporting know that you are there for them. Avoid criticizing, nagging, or any other harmful behavior. Recovering from addiction is hard enough. You want the trust to flow both ways. Establish your boundaries and avoid being controlling. View the situation from their perspective and become the beacon of reliability they need. You can even attend substance addiction groups with them to be the arm they lean on.
Be Honest, Yet Firm
The last thing you want to do is be wishy-washy about addiction. Be clear about how the issue is affecting you. Recovery is about learning that addiction harms other people, too. Be honest. It’s what your loved one deserves.
In the same token, please don’t attempt to protect them by pretending the behavior is not harmful. To recover, addicts need to know that there are consequences to their actions.
Explore Treatment Options
One great way to be supportive is to investigate treatment options with the person looking to recover. There are many ways to address addiction. You can turn to a therapist or substance addiction groups. Many in-person and online options are available.
Be Respectful
Finally, be respectful of the recovery process. Respect your loved one’s privacy and boundaries. Don’t push them or nag them in any way. Recovering from addiction takes time, and everyone goes at their own pace. The last thing you want to do is create a hostile or anxiety-ridden environment that drives them to abuse again.
A Rock of Support
Addiction can have life-long implications on a person’s life. Being supportive will make it easier for your loved ones to get the help they need. Even after recovering, your continued support can help avoid relapse.
Author Resource:-
Alester Brown writes about physiotherapy. She advises people on health care, online therapy, anxiety discussion groups & depression message boards. You can find her thoughts at online therapist blog.
