Rehab can be a scary and confusing time for the person receiving treatment and their loved ones. It’s important to remember that you are not alone in this process, and there are ways that you can support your loved one during rehab. In this article, we will discuss some tips for how to support someone who is in rehab.
Show compassion
One of the best things you can do to support a loved one who is in rehab is to show compassion. Having compassion is an excellent way to support someone on their recovery journey, but this action will also help with every other action you take to support your loved one.
Using compassion to fuel your support for your loved one will make everything else you do to support them easier for you and more meaningful for them.
The definition of compassion
When some people think of compassion, they may just think it means kindness or pity. However, Webster’s Dictionary defines kindness as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”
Understanding this full definition of compassion can help you see how much more it is than just being nice to someone. It also encompasses feeling empathy for their situation, as well as desiring to help make it better. Many people in our society view people with substance use disorder with pity or shame, but by having compassion for them, we can see them as the human beings they are who deserve love and support.
Educate yourself about addiction
If you have never struggled with addiction yourself, it can be difficult to understand what your loved one is going through. It’s important to educate yourself about addiction and how it affects the brain. This will not only help you understand your loved one’s behaviors but also give you empathy for what they are going through.
There are many resources available to help you learn about addiction. At Isaiah House, our blog offers helpful articles that discuss and explain different topics surrounding addiction recovery.
On top of that, we have the Real HopeCast. The Real HopeCast is the official podcast of Isaiah House Treatment Center. The podcast speaks to those who are in addiction, have been affected by addiction, or are in recovery. Listeners will hear real-life stories from people from all walks of life who are in recovery today as well as dive into topics related to substance use disorder in the hope of bringing awareness to and breaking the stigma of addiction.
It can also be very beneficial to educate yourself about some of the ins and outs of what your loved one is experiencing during inpatient rehab. We have a catalog of family resource videos featuring Isaiah House staff members that will help walk you through what your loved one is experiencing at our facilities.
The more you know about addiction, the better equipped you will be to support your loved one in their recovery journey.
Help take care of things at home
Battling addiction requires a lot of time and focus. One way you can support your loved one during rehab is by taking care of things at home. This may include taking care of their pets, handling their bills and mail, or just generally keeping things running smoothly at home. This will help take some of the stress off of them so that they can focus on their recovery.
One favor you may want to consider is cleaning their house or hiring a professional house cleaning service to come in and clean it for them while they are in rehab. This will give them one less thing to worry about when they come home from treatment.
Keep in touch with them
Doing all these things to support your loved one in rehab is great, but it’s even better if the person knows that they have your support. While there may be some circumstances when communicating with your loved one isn’t what’s best, there are many times when it can be helpful.
There are multiple ways that you could keep in touch with your loved one while they’re in rehab.
Call them and encourage them
Even if your loved one isn’t allowed to have their cell phone in rehab, you still may have chances to receive a call from them. A quick phone call that allows you to let them know you’re thinking about them can be very encouraging. While you’re on the phone, be sure to let them know that you’re proud of their progress and excited to hear about their continued recovery.
Send a thoughtful letter
Sending letters is a bit of a lost art nowadays. But there’s something special about unfolding a physical message from someone you love. Sending your loved one in rehab an encouraging letter can be incredibly impactful to them. On top of that, they’ll be able to save that letter and go back to it whenever they feel like they could use some extra encouragement.
Send a care package
If the facility your loved one is staying at allows it, a care package can be a great way to encourage them. Filling up a box with needed items such as a jacket or an extra pair of socks is a great place to start. You could also include uplifting hand-written notes from other people who mean a lot to the person. A pre-approved care package is a great way to show your loved one in rehab that you care about them and are supporting them.
Achieving recovery at Isaiah House
Isaiah House is a faith-based, non-profit addiction treatment center that provides short-term and long-term residential, substance use disorder treatment for men and women. We know how important community and family support is in a recovery journey
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, reach out to us today. Recovery is possible, and we want to walk with you through every step of the journey.
