Seeking treatment for addiction is a long and difficult process and, for many people, it requires participating in an intensive inpatient program. It’s a process that requires the individual to detox and learn a new way of living, which will help him stay clean. When your loved one returns home from a rehab facility, you’ll want to make changes that will help him continue to live a sober and healthy life.
Most people don’t realize that addiction recovery is about more than just saying no to substance use. It also requires taking on a healthier mindset. By enacting new practices early, you’ll be better prepared to give him a positive home environment, when he does return home.
Learn as Much as You Can About Recovery
You’ve probably participated in your loved one’s recovery from the very beginning by attending family counseling sessions and learning facts about addiction. Treatment facilities provide these resources, because the struggling addict needs the support of his loved ones. By educating family members and keeping them involved, treatment facilities can help each individual build a strong support network.
Additionally, this helps loved ones understand what the addict is going through in recovery. As they learn about addiction and recovery, they can apply their understanding of the condition to their loved one’s situation. This can help ease tensions that may exist, while also helping prepare the family for the recovering addict’s eventual return home.
Embrace Clean Living in the Household
Another important step to take in preparing for your loved one’s return home is to make the home drug and alcohol free. One of the biggest struggles your loved one will face is in resisting the temptation to use again. While they do learn coping mechanisms for resisting these triggers, you can help by reducing the availability of substances.
Removing alcohol from the home is a good first step. It’s also helpful if everyone else in the home is living a sober lifestyle, as well. If it is necessary to keep prescription drugs in the household, try to move them to a place that will be inaccessible to the recovering addict. It may be a good idea to keep them in a lockbox, which is kept out of sight.
Develop New Recreational Activities
Whatever hobbies your loved one had before his recovery will only serve as reminders of his substance use. For this reason, you should look for new activities that your loved one can do, or ask him about any new hobbies he’s taken up in treatment. If you can share this interest together, it will help him keep his mind focused on the activity. You may even develop several interests together, which can also help strengthen your relationship.
Many recovery programs encourage patients to practice relaxation techniques to help reduce stress. This is encouraged, because high levels of stress serve as a common trigger for substance abuse. Your loved one may have started to learn yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. By taking up these practices in the home, you can join your loved one in continuing these relaxation methods. Reducing stress is important to everyone, so this can benefit anyone in the household.
Address Problems Together
When your loved one returns home, there will be many issues that will need to be addressed. For instance, the addiction likely caused financial difficulties, which still haven’t been resolved. You and your loved one should consult a financial advisor together to develop a strategy for rebuilding your finances. It may also be wise to attend counseling together to help reduce the strain in the relationship. Many of these problems can’t be resolved by just one of you, so working on them together is the only way to move forward.
Another concern that will be present in the household is the fear of a relapse. This will worry the recovering addict as much as it will concern you. While it’s okay to check up on him from time to time, you should resist the urge to smother. Instead, be wary of signs of a possible relapse. These can include:
- Romanticizing the past in regard to his addiction
- Reigniting old friendships with other drug and alcohol users
- Behavioral changes
- Loss of interest in new hobbies
- Missing group therapy meetings
- Obvious symptoms of withdrawal
Returning home will place an extra burden on your family, as well as on the recovering addict. He will no longer have the structured supervision of the treatment facility, so it will take time for him to readjust to a freer schedule. By taking steps to make this transition easier, you’ll help your loved one continue the clean lifestyle he began in rehab.
Call us today to get started on your recovery journey: 844-639-8371