It can be hard sometimes to talk to a friend or loved one who’s going through drug rehab.
You probably know by now how hard substance abuse treatment can be. It involves a lot of difficult work, self-examination, and bravery to step away from the emotional armor addictive substances provide. Even the first step of asking for help can be a massive challenge.
So, it’s easy to understand why some of us approach our recovering friends and loved ones like we’re wearing kid gloves. Maybe we’re afraid we might say or do the wrong thing and trigger a relapse. Maybe we’re worried about what kind of boundaries exist between us and our friends after a major life change.
Finally, if they’re living in a sober home, we wonder if a careless action might get them kicked out.
Stop worrying.
Recovery makes us stronger and more resilient; your recovering friend or loved one won’t shatter if you make the occasional faux pas. The best thing you can do for someone in recovery is to support them; support is key in making sure your loved one is able to build a happier, better life for themselves.
That’s not to say there are a number of things you shouldn’t do, however.
3 Positive Things You Can Do For A Friend In Sober Living
Here are some tips on how to talk to and support a friend or loved one during their journey of sober living:
- Avoid saying anything that might sound like you’re judging them. Addiction is a disease, and no one deserves judgment for being sick. Also, addiction is often driven by trauma and mental illness, and nobody asks for those things to happen in their lives.
- Get educated about addiction and recovery. The more you know, the more helpful you can be. There are lots of great books and websites out there that can help you understand what your friend is going through. Being informed about the behaviors behind addiction can help you understand how your loved one is doing in recovery, too.
Here’s an example: let’s say your recovering friend is spending a lot of time thinking about the things they did before they decided to go to rehab. Although you can’t control your friend’s actions, you can listen, talk with them about digging up the past, and maybe offer them a ride to a 12-step group, another kind of support group, or just someplace that’s centered around sobriety.
Understand that addiction is often replaced with replacement addictions. Addiction occupies a lot of time, and people newly in recovery often find they have a lot of time on their hands. Unfortunately, this time can be replaced with replacement addictions, like junk food or smoking.
Plus, it’s not uncommon for someone in early sobriety to become obsessed with healthy living or working out. These new obsessions can be just as damaging as the old ones, so it’s important to talk about a healthy balance with your friend. - Be careful not to use substances around your friend. This should be obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. If you’re using drugs or alcohol around someone in recovery, you’re not respecting their boundaries. You might also inadvertently trigger them to want to begin using drugs again as well.
So, there you have it: some tips on how to support a friend or loved one during their journey of sober living! Just remember, the best thing you can do is be there for them and offer your support.
Everything else will fall into place as long as you keep that in mind.
The Role Sober Living Homes Play in Recovery
Sober living homes aren’t just places for people to live in as they recover. They are incredibly helpful resources for people deeper into recovery.
During the outpatient phases of addiction care, most people begin to experiment with returning to ordinary life. Sober living homes act as a sort of safety net, allowing a recovering person to take the first crucial steps back into day-to-day life without substances.
Here’s why sober living homes are so valuable:
- They’re substance-free places, which means the risk of relapse is far lower.
- They’re great for relearning life skills addiction causes you to neglect.
- Sober home house managers are great recovery resources; most of them have been through rehab and have tons of great advice to offer.
- By living with other people working on their recovery, it’s much easier to stay accountable and avoid any setbacks.
Those are just a few of the benefits sober living homes bring to the recovery table. Finding a sober living house can be a problem, however.
SoberLivingNearYou.com Helps You Find A Friend (or a Loved One) a Sober Home To Live In
There are countless sober home providers across the US. Some are reserved for certain genders; other sober homes are organized around shared interests, backgrounds, or ages. Finding the right sober home for yourself or a loved one is key.
SoberLivingNearYou.com takes the sting out of the search for a sober home. With thousands of listings at your fingertips, finding a sober home for yourself, a friend, or a loved one has never been easier. Start your search today with SoberLivingNearYou.com today!
