Can you talk to someone while they are in rehab?
What do you say to someone who is in recovery?
What are the 5 stages of rehab?
What do you do when someone won't go to rehab?
What happens when you have a loved one with an addiction?
Let’s face it: When you have a loved one in active drug or alcohol addiction, communication isn’t easy. Talks that often start out with the best of intentions can end in arguments, yelling, cursing, passive-aggressive remarks, indifference, avoidance, depression, frustration, tears – sometimes even threats.
What is the blackout period in addiction treatment?
Many addiction treatment facilities, including our own, have phone rules and restrictions for clients – often based on how long they have been at the treatment center, their behavior and their work with their counselors in establishing healthy boundaries and relationships. The first few days of treatment can include what is known as a “blackout period” – where clients are not allowed to make outside calls, and instead must focus on themselves, their healing and their task at hand. If a “blackout period” is instated at the treatment facility your loved one attends, you may be unable to speak to your loved one directly over the phone.
What does forgiveness mean?
It’s likely that your loved one made some serious mistakes, and you’re having a difficult time moving on. Forgiveness is about understanding that your loved one was sick with the disease of addiction when he or she said or did things to hurt you or break your trust.
Do Some Research
What to say to someone going into rehab becomes much easier if you do a little research into how addiction works and what treatment consists of. Addiction isn’t a choice, but rather a mental disorder. That’s why one person may become an addict while another person doesn’t, even though they had the same amount of a drug in a specific period.
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What to Say to Someone Going into Rehab
Addicts are often filled with fear of the unknown and stressed by the idea of not being able to abuse drugs and alcohol anymore. The following section explores words of encouragement for drug addicts for when they first decide to go into rehab. It can be used as a guideline for what to say, allowing you to add your personal touch.
What to Avoid Saying to an Addict
Along with encouragement for addicts, there are things that one should avoid saying to a person about to enter into rehab. Much of the following questions and statements that you can say come from uninformed point of view, which is why it’s important to understand more about the disease before saying something you regret.
Sources
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/what-drug-addiction-treatment
What happens when you get sober?
When an individual gets sober, he or she learns how to confront suppressed feelings and uncomfortable triggers. In other words, people learn a whole new way of living. Such changes, undoubtedly, have their obstacles.
What is addiction in family?
Addiction represents a family disease. That means every member plays a part in the dynamic. By learning to identify your part, you can learn how to set healthier boundaries for yourself and with your loved one. Believe it or not, many people in rehab wish their families or friends would obtain their own support.
What does it mean to be nonjudgmental?
Providing a nonjudgmental space indicates that it’s safe for your loved one to be honest with you. Ask your loved one what they’ve found challenging. You don’t need to provide direct advice, but you should be willing to listen. In addiction treatment, there’s a common expression that secrets keep you sick.
Is addiction a complicated problem?
It’s often wrapped in layers of deceit, shame, and denial. There’s a good chance that you don’t know the true extent of how much your loved one has struggle d.
Is addiction a medical condition?
Addiction is a chronic disease and a medical condition. Relapse, therefore, can be a part of the recovery process. Furthermore, both physical and psychological dependence play a significant role in maintaining addiction. Most people with addictions have the desire to stop using or drinking.
Is it easy to get sober?
Just like getting sober isn’t easy, choosing to attend treatment isn’t easy, either. After all, reaching for help requires setting aside some pride and ego to make such a big decision. Addiction can impact every area of one’s life. Taking the step to challenge that status quo is brave. It’s also incredibly scary!
What does someone in recovery want to hear about?
The last thing someone in recovery wants to hear about is how someone who is not in recovery can still drink or use. While not always the case, hearing about the topic could take them back to their own drug use and make them wish they could still partake in certain activities.
Is it normal to be awkward with someone who is not in recovery?
It can sometimes be awkward for individuals who are not in recovery themselves to broach the topic with a loved one for fear of saying the wrong thing or coming across as judgmental. However, if you have a loved one in recovery from a drug addiction, it’s normal to want to know more and understand what it is they went through and continue to go through.
What to remember when recovering from addiction?
One of the first things to remember is that people in recovery are given a lot of new information. Chances are, doctors and therapists have already provided the facts about addiction and recovery. Your loved one may also attend meetings that focus on the disease, as well as the solution to recovery.
How many people are in need of addiction treatment in 2015?
The disease of addiction continues to affect millions of American families. In 2015, an estimated 22 million people were in need of addiction treatment. While not everyone chooses to pursue sobriety, there are thousands of people who have built successful lives in recovery.
Can you trigger someone with comments about their history?
However, it can be easy to trigger someone with comments about their history, especially if your loved one is in early sobriety.
What are the fears of rehab?
Anxiety, fear, and worry often accompanies an individual into rehab. If they’re entering an inpatient, partial hospitalization, or even intensive outpatient therapy, they may be worried about a pet, their home, or a relative. They may not be able to attend to many of the simple errands most of us do without a second thought. If you are able to attend to any of these tasks, let your loved one know, and ease their fears so they can focus on their health and recovery journey.
Why is accountability important in rehab?
Accountability is important, and therapists will help individuals address this subject matter in time, but what’s essential, particularly early on in rehab, is encouraging loved ones to focus on the positive–focus on their recovery. Guilt and sadness–these emotions can detract from recovery.
What is addiction recovery?
Therapists help clients learn about the various physical and psychological aspects of addiction, but also work with each person to help them consider what may have led them to abuse drugs or alcohol. Identifying these ‘triggers’ is a major part of relapse prevention. Your loved one may want to discuss all the different things they’ve come to learn about themselves, their families and relationships, and addiction.
Can recovery be lonely?
Even though there are many caring treatment center counselors and therapists as well as other recovering individuals, the recovery process can feel lonely. As people work to change their lives, they may feel isolated and cut off from many aspects of their former life.
