Supporting someone you care about in their decision to remain sober is crucial if they are recovering from addiction. It can be immensely beneficial in assisting people to maintain responsibility for their actions and adhere to the new sober life ideals they discovered throughout treatment. Yet, this can occasionally be a little trickier than it seems. However, good intentions are rarely enough, and it might take some time to discover how best to support someone in recovery.
A few of the things you should be aware of are as follows
– An illness that is what addiction is. This is crucial. It indicates that your friend or loved one does not have a character fault or moral impairment. Long-term use of drugs and alcohol can physically alter the size and shape of brain cells. Addiction is a medical and psychological problem. The person’s capacity to control impulses associated to substance use and misuse is consequently altered. The impulse to relapse is not something that is their fault, and it should not be in any way blamed on them. It makes sense to be angry at the condition itself. It is not a good idea to be angry with or blame the person.
– It is ineffective to nag. Even while you may think you are just checking in with them or encouraging them to make good decisions, if it comes off as constant nagging and becomes a bother, it can really work as a trigger for relapse after they have suffered from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. This can be misleading to supporting friends and family members who are only trying to help. When it is acceptable, check in, but be aware if your interest or worry is causing more annoyance than anything else, in which case you should be prepared to back off.