When a loved one who has become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol gets sober and goes to rehab, it is an exciting, but also a trying time for everyone involved. On one hand, an addict’s loved ones are relieved that their loved one is accounted for and they no longer must second guess what is going on. On the other hand, everyone is trying to acclimate to the new changes that must take place when their now recovering loved one finishes their treatment and returns home.
Attending a rehabilitation facility means having a well-structured environment. Outside of the walls of the rehab, your loved one is now responsible for making new decisions that can be difficult for them. Fear can surround your family because they may feel like they must walk around on eggshells to prevent unnecessary conflicts and to prevent the much-dreaded relapse.
Before your loved one leaves the treatment center, an aftercare plan will be established for when they feel vulnerable to the obsession of their addiction and help them to transition back into their real life easier. Loved ones also need some help transitioning into the new world of recovery to make sure that certain actions are more helpful rather than harmful.
Putting demands on a newly recovering loved one may keep them from solidifying their recovery by doing too much too soon. The first 90 days of sobriety can be the most difficult due to all the changes that they are making. Try to be supportive and give them time to adapt to their new sober lifestyle.
Learning how to be happy for your recovering loved one can be a hard task to pull off especially when you might be under the impression that family no longer comes first. Being jealous of the time that they are spending with their recovery peeps, in meetings, and in therapy sessions takes away from seeing their real purpose of trying to live a healthier life. All the effort that your loved one is putting into the recovery is giving them a chance to acquire long-term sobriety.
Getting help to stop enabling addict-behaviors will benefit your recovering loved one as well as your loved one finding difficulty in supporting another’s recovery. Having tools to dictate how to navigate through an addict’s recovery can show a loved one how to keep from being judgmental, taking the blame, being in fear of saying the wrong thing, or putting expectations on a recovering loved one that they might not be able to live up to.
Addiction is a family disease that can also be a family recovery. Everyone must have their separate program to get better. Growing together in recovery, can help heal old wounds that can open the family to bloom.
Serenity Oaks Wellness Center can help an addict in need to help them thrive in recovery. Our staff of therapists, counselors, doctors, and nurses are here to help make your treatment as comfortable as possible. Call us today: 844-720-6847
