Your decision to enroll in a Florida drug rehabilitation program is one that you arrived at after careful thought about your future. Before you made this choice, you likely dealt with a great amount of issues that were all caused by your addiction. Dealing with a drug or alcohol problem often means that you’ve struggled physically, mentally and even socially with the effects of substance abuse in your life. Going to treatment helps you start to put all of those problems behind you.
While you should be excited about your decision to change your life, you may still have one more obstacle to get through. Telling your loved ones that you are enrolling in a rehab program is a sensitive conversation that may have you worried about how everyone will react. While you cannot control how your loved ones feel, you can use these strategies to begin a conversation that lets them know about the decisions that you have made to help you lead a healthier lifestyle.
Ask For a Good Time to Talk
There is no shame in seeking help to end your addiction. However, you do want to keep in mind that this can be a sensitive subject for some people. If your loved one has no idea about your struggles with drugs or alcohol, then they may have many questions. Some people also do better with serious conversations when they are mentally prepared. Asking your loved one to set up a time to talk helps them begin to understand that you have something important to discuss. Not only does this prevent them from feeling ambushed, but it also gives you the chance to plan for the right time and place to go into the situation.
When you set up the time to talk, consider whether you want to tell only one person at a time or speak with several members of your family at once. You may prefer to get it all done in one big talk if you are going to rehab soon or worry that someone might feel like they were the last to know. You will also want to choose a place to host the conversation. Your house or another semi-private place is likely best since it gives people enough space to ask questions without worrying about being overheard.
Decide How Much Detail You Want to Share
While you want to be sensitive to your loved one’s needs, you also want to remember that this is about your need to seek treatment for your addiction. Think about how much you want to share with each of your loved ones. To do so, it helps to consider your answers to these common questions that families ask about their loved one’s desire to seek treatment for addiction.
- How long have you struggled with your addiction?
- How do you know that you need to go to rehab?
- Have you picked out a specific Florida rehab?
- How long will you stay?
You may also want to think about how much you plan to tell your family about the challenges that your addiction has caused in your life. While some of your family members may already know about issues in your relationship or at work, others may only need to know that you are seeking treatment. You can use your best judgement to decide how much to share, but remember that you may also find allies in unexpected places. Be open to the possibility that one of your loved ones has also gone through addiction recovery and may have insights to share.
Be Prepared to Offer Ways They Can Help
Although you may be nervous about opening up, the good news is that most family members and friends respond positively to the news that someone they love is choosing to do the right thing for their health and happiness. Hearing other people offer you support is a great sign that you have loving family members and friends, and you may need to provide them with ideas for how they can support you through your journey to sobriety.
If your family is close or lives in Florida, then you can invite them to visit you or attend family therapy sessions. Those who live further away or in your hometown might choose to send you letters or make phone calls to help keep your spirits up. You can also ask your loved ones to handle specific tasks while you are away. For instance, knowing that your sibling is looking after your pet or checking on your house makes it easier to stay focused in rehab.
Are you getting ready to tell your loved ones about your decision to go to rehab? Give us a call at 844-639-8371, and we’ll help you set up a plan for your stay that you can share with them.