Addiction recovery can be a lonely process. In many cases, those in recovery are leaving behind lives that may not have been ideal, but that were familiar. If you are living with someone in recovery, you can be a fantastic support. Below are four ways you can help a loved one in addiction recovery.
Educate Yourself
Don’t make assumptions about what it’s like to go through addiction recovery. Your loved one is going through a difficult process that is literally changing the way that he or she is living his or her life. Do your due diligence and learn more about what he or she is going through so you can help. If you have questions about addiction recovery, ask those who have gone through similar experiences and may have valuable information for you.
Support Their Sobriety
You can be a valuable resource in helping your loved one live a substance free lifestyle. Make sure you keep your home free of temptations, especially for the first year after he or she gets clean. You’re not just helping to remove easy access from the substances that have caused harm, but you’re also showing solidarity with someone you love. Removing these substances from your home shows that you are all in this together.
Get Professional Help
You simply cannot be everything that a person in recovery needs. While your efforts are appreciated, it’s often helpful for you to take part in the search for professional legal help. If you’ve got a loved one who is still dealing with the legal consequences of their addiction, it might be a good idea to find help from lawyers like those at Duffy Law, who can help with federal drug violations. Dealing with the legal ramifications of drug use should always be handled by a professional.
Be There
Finally, make yourself available. This doesn’t mean you have to stop your life to help your loved one deal with his or her addiction, but it means that you should let him or her know that you are there. Become the kind of person who can be there on a bad night, who can help him or her find resources when things get tough, and who can help him or her get back on the wagon after a relapse. Dealing with addiction is hard enough without doing it alone.
You will play an important part in the recovery of the person you love. Learn what you can, be present when possible, and find help when it is needed. This is a journey that requires a great deal of support, so don’t run away. If you’re available, you can provide the support your loved one needs.