Supporting Your Partner in Rehab

In this blog post, we offer you advice and guidance if a loved one is currently battling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs. If you currently live with this person, then you will be all too aware of the difficulties posed by living with someone who suffers from an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Getting this person to overcome denial and accept that help is needed may be even tougher. However, with the right approach, you can convince your loved one that there is a solution to his or her problem, and we are confident that we can help you discover this solution.

In this post, we assume you have successfully persuaded your loved one that rehab is a requirement and offer advice relating to supporting your loved one before, during and after this treatment takes place.

Whilst the motivation for going to rehab must emanate directly from your loved one, there are several tips you can follow to help your loved one’s transition into recovery.

#1. Be supportive of your loved one goes to rehab

This tip really boils down to common sense. It’s important not to blame your loved one for his or her addiction or make life difficult in any way or shape. You must show your support and respect for your loved one’s decision to seek out professional support. This support must be evident right from the word go, and definitely, before your loved one’s treatment begins.

It’s also important to reassure your loved one that you will be around to support him or her throughout the recovery process. This will delight and empower your loved one and mean rehab treatment is more likely to succeed.

#2. Draw on support from the entire family

Whilst your support alone is infinitely better than receiving no support, it’s also key to attempt to recruit the support of both immediate and wider family members if possible. This will provide your loved one with an essential safety net and provide your loved one with the psychological strength needed to get through those difficult initial months of sobriety. Generally, having cheerleaders is a powerful way to keep the motivation going when it’s most required.

It’s also important to instil in your loved one that you will have enough family support to ‘keep things going’ whilst your loved one is attending the rehab clinic. This will put your loved one’s mind at rest during the entire rehabilitation process. This is particularly important if you are elderly, disabled or pregnant.

There is no point in hiding your loved one’s addiction from children. We recommend you allow the family to heal, and consider attending Al-Anon sessions to allow this family-wide healing process to take place.

#3. Don’t fall off the radar

When your loved one attends a residential rehab clinic, he or she may stay for up to 12 weeks. It’s therefore important to pay a visit to your loved one during this period, or at least to make yourself available for a telephone update.

You may consider writing to your loved one. This may be particularly advisable during the initial four weeks when your loved one undergoes a detox programme. This will may avoid your loved one becoming homesick.

#4. Celebrate your loved ones return

When your loved one returns from the rehab clinic, it’s important to mark the occasion with a celebration. This is to celebrate your loved one’s progress in recovery so far.

It’s also important to prepare the home so that no alcohol is left lying around. Leaving alcohol in the house will be insensitive to your partner’s recovery goals. It’s also important to plan out your loved one’s calendar so that their lifestyle is conducive to recovery. This will also help your partner avoid relapse.

#5. Encourage your partner to attend support groups

This means finding out the location and time of local Alcoholics’ Anonymous or SMART Recovery support groups. Also, encourage your loved one to get an AA sponsor. This is a person who has succeeded in his or her recovery and who is now willing to help your loved one achieve this goal too.

About Rehab 4 Alcoholism

Rehab 4 Alcoholism offers drug and alcohol rehab in Bristol. For more information, contact us today on 0800 111 4108.

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