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Published: 6/11/2021

Giving your loved one support is key to successful substance abuse treatment. Positive social support can make all the difference while someone undergoes a substance abuse evaluation at a recovery home. 

Many loved ones aren't sure how to provide this kind of support. They worry about enabling addiction or causing stress during the treatment process. However, this can result in their loved one feeling unsupported, which often leads to relapse.

In this article, we discuss how to support a loved one in a substance abuse recovery home. You'll learn how to promote their work with their substance abuse counselor and how to set healthy boundaries. Continue reading to learn more.

What Is a Substance Abuse Recovery Home?

A recovery home such as Progress House provides services to aid in substance abuse treatment. These services include medical care, behavioral health care, counseling, and more. It's a process referred to as "whole health recovery." 

We aim to promote a psychic change needed for a life free of substance abuse. Our approach increases our patient's chances of success after working with our substance abuse counselor.

Learn About Substance Abuse and Recovery

Once your loved one undergoes substance abuse evaluation at their recovery home, you must understand the process. Ask questions such as the following:

• What is substance abuse?
• What is the recovery process for substance abuse disorder?
• What is a substance abuse evaluation?
• How can I help?
  
  

By understanding what addiction looks like and how it develops, you can offer your loved one better support. You can also better understand what they're going through as a result of their substance abuse disorder. The process is not easy and your support will help them be more successful.

Plus, the more educated you are, the easier it will be to understand the difference between who your loved one really is and how their substance abuse disorder forces them to behave. It's a disease that needs treatment and not a representation of their character.

Prepare for a Difficult Journey

As we said, the journey is long and difficult. The fact that your loved one has chosen to seek treatment at a recovery home is a huge step toward a better life. However, the journey is going to be difficult for both of you.

Even if you thoroughly educate yourself on substance abuse and recovery, it doesn't make it any easier. Though it will give you the tools to support your loved one through the process.

Keep in mind, the recovery process doesn't end when they leave their recovery home and neither should your support. Substance abuse treatment is a lifelong process.

Even though it's a lifelong battle, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be optimistic about a better future. Being an ongoing source of support is encouraging and promotes better follow-through with treatment.

Be Supportive

We've talked about the need to be supportive, but you may be wondering what supporting someone undergoing a substance abuse evaluation actually looks like. First, start by considering what they need to do to be successful. Then, let them know that you're there to support and encourage them along the way.

Focus on Recovery

After they've completed their substance abuse treatment at the recovery home, they will likely need to attend regular meetings. They also need to focus on whatever work their substance abuse counselor has assigned to them.

This period of time is highly self-reflective, but it's not your loved one being selfish. You must expect their focus to be on their recovery for the time being. It's also important to help other loved ones expect this as well. 

This helps to avoid unnecessary conflict and stress. The more social support your loved one has, the less their chance of relapsing is. Good social support means communicating effectively (talking and listening), emphasizing learned coping strategies when they struggle, and being flexible in case things don't go as planned.

Doing the Work Themselves

Being supportive does not mean doing the work for your loved one. As much as you want to help, not letting them struggle and learn for themselves can actually hurt their progress. 

Making mistakes is an important part of substance abuse treatment. Your loved one can't learn how to change their behavior if they don't fully understand how their behavior affects them and others. Help them through their mistakes, but don't fix or hide their mistakes for them.

Encourage their progress in the recovery home. If they have a bad day with their substance abuse counselor, remind them of how far they've come and that you're proud of their efforts.

Take Care of Yourself

Wanting to help your loved one through recovery can result in you overlooking your needs. That's why it's important to set boundaries and take care of yourself first.

If helping a loved one during recovery negatively impacts your health or well-being, it's time to set boundaries. An example of setting healthy boundaries is learning to say 'no.' When you want to help someone, it can be easy to say 'yes' to whatever they need, but it's not always in your (or their) best interest. 

By taking good care of yourself and meeting your own needs, you will be better equipped to help care for your loved one during substance abuse evaluation and treatment. By learning what affects your mental health, you can decide what healthy boundaries to set.

Watch for Signs of Relapse

As we said, addiction recovery continues after they leave the recovery home, and that includes watching for signs of relapse. Signs of relapse include behavioral changes, believing they don't need to continue seeing their substance abuse counselor or support group, and lying or hiding things. Noticing these signs early can help them get back on track quicker.

Support During Substance Abuse Treatment

Your loved one's decision to join a recovery home is one of the most important steps in the recovery process. However, it doesn't mean the process is going to be easy and they are going to need your support. 

Be prepared for the difficult journey ahead so you have the tools to make it as manageable as possible. Be supportive and encouraging, but don't do the work for them. 

If your loved one is looking for the best whole health recovery program, have them complete our online residency application today.