Research shows that when families are involved in a loved one's recovery, outcomes are better. If you have a loved one in recovery or undergoing treatment, here are some tips to help on your journey.
Questions to ask your loved one to learn how you can best support them:
- What are your goals?
- How can I be helpful?
- In what ways can I ensure your safety and well-being?
- How will we communicate with each other in difficult situations?
- When it comes to sharing your recovery with others outside of our family, what approach feels right?
Celebrate the successes. The first few weeks and months of recovery are often the hardest. Be sure to point out any and all positives while offering hope and compassion.
Make sure your loved one knows they can approach you with anything that’s on their mind. Some families have a weekly check-in to avoid overwhelming loved ones with daily questions they may have about their loved one’s recovery.
Try to be solution-oriented and calm in the event of a return to substance use. Learn about the difference between a slip or lapse and a relapse.
Self-care – when you take care of your own health and needs, you’re helping both yourself and your loved ones.
Remember, the path to recovery looks different for everyone. Some people have a desire to achieve total abstinence. Others may not have a goal of abstinence but are willing to reduce their substance use. Harm reduction is any step to reduce use or lower risks when using substances.
