What to say/ how to Support Someone in Recovery
You are happy that your loved one is in a women’s drug rehab centre in Vancouver, but there is no denying that you are feeling a bit conflicted. You may be wondering if the program will be successful, or you might be thinking of all the pain you went through because of the substance use disorder. In short, it might be hard to figure out how to support and talk to your loved one during recovery. The following tips will help you do just that.
How to Support Someone in Recovery
The first thing you should remember is that there is a difference between how you talk to your loved one when you are alone and when you are in a joint counselling session.
One-on-One Conversation
It is only natural for you to want to express your anger, but this might not be the best time for that. What you want to do is concentrate on forgiveness. Tell your loved one that you have forgiven him or her or that you are working on it. Try to learn more about the substance use disorder. Those dealing with this disease need to be assured that they were not in control. In essence, come to your loved one from a place of understanding.
You want to focus on being a support system for your family member or friend. Drug rehabilitation is not a simple process, and your loved one will need confidence to fight this addiction. You should try to play the role of a cheerleader.
A Joint Conversation
At this point, you can talk about how your loved one hurt you. Be sure that you are ready to talk about these issues in a calm manner without anger because this might actually hurt your loved one at a time when drug abusers are quite vulnerable.
It is important, however, to talk to the counsellor before you do this to make sure that he or she knows that you want to discuss the negative effects of your loved one’s addiction. The counsellor will have more tips so that you bring up these subjects in the right way.
Hopefully, these ideas help you talk to your loved one during recovery. Remember to always keep your loved one focused on the goal. Westminster House understands that those going through recovery do not need to worry about anything but healing from this disease, at least until the program is completed.