Do’s & Don’ts When Welcoming Home a Recovering Addict

As a loved one of a recovering addict, it is your job to support them in any way you can. It is very important to prepare yourself for when they are coming home. A lot of things need to be prepared ahead of time to get ready for when they go back to their life. Be aware of all the things you need to look out for and observe.

Your friend or loved one has spent a lot of time struggling with substance abuse and addiction. You have watched them as they battled and failed in the past due to this addiction. There may even have been points where your relationship with them has felt more like a battle.

But all of that is in the past now, because when they finally decided to get help from a professional, they opened the door to change and are ready to turn their life around. And now that it is time for them to go back home, you must be the one to welcome them and help them on their road to complete recovery.

It is normal to feel nervous and lost as to how you are going to help a recovering addict. That feeling is completely valid; you can expect difficult days and challenges along the way. But it is important to know the do’s and don’ts when helping an addict recover.

Do’s:  

1. Communicate  

Honesty is the most important tool you can use in communicating with a recovering addict. Talking about how you feel, may it be positive or negative, is always better than not communicating at all.

2. Connect  

In helping an addict recover, you must connect and express yourself. You can look for local support groups where you can talk to people with similar experiences. Open up and understand what others went through so you will be able to understand and prepare for when your loved one comes home.

In relating to the stories of other people, you will know how to connect, relate, and help your recovering loved one in situations that you didn’t know about.

3. Be Patient  

Helping an addict recover can be a long process. You may think that spending time in rehab makes them better when they get home, but you will have to go through the healing and recovery process with them. As their family, you must understand that they need extra care and patience.

Preparation is important to know exactly how to help an addict recover from home.

4. Love  

The most important thing to do when helping a recovering addict is to love them. After a long period of time battling with their addiction, they most likely feel lost and alone in their journey. Go the extra mile to show them how much you care and that you are there to support them on their journey no matter what.

Spend time with them through hobbies and new traditions such as weekly brunch and outdoor activities. There are a lot of things you can do to show your love and support.

Don’ts:  

1. Judge  

The first thing you must never do in helping your loved one recover is to judge their journey and progress. Recovery from addiction is hard, and every recovering addict has different experiences on their journey. Their process can be hard and very emotional. Judging what they have been through will make things harder for the both of you to accept and welcome the change in your lives.

2. Blame Yourself  

In preparation for your loved one returning home from rehab, you must have certain plans and expectations. In order to not feel bad or blame yourself when things get hard, you must learn the 3 C’s of Addiction: you didn’t cause it, you cannot control it, and you certainly can’t cure it. It is very important to understand that you are not the one to blame for your loved one’s addiction and struggles. Learning how to accept what happened and not blaming yourself about it will help you realize that your main goal is to love, help, and support your loved one the best you can.

3. Relive the Past  

If your recovering loved one has hurt you while they were suffering addiction in the past, it is never a good thing to remember or bring it up while they are in recovery. Keep in mind that they spent a lot of time recovering and are taking the next steps to move forward and heal completely. Let go of all the bad things their addiction may have caused you and your relationship with them. If they are trying to heal from it, you should too.

Helping a loved one recover from addiction can be too much to handle sometimes. You may even still need professional help in doing so. If you are looking for a drug rehab around Nashville, check out Haven House. We offer programs and sessions to help you and your loved one recover and heal together. As a family, it is essential to take these steps together and welcome a new and better life.