How to Support a Loved One Through Addiction Recovery: A Guide for Families

Supporting a loved one through addiction is not easy, and there are a number of different challenges people face when someone suffers from an addiction to drugs, alcohol or even gambling.

This is particularly true if you, yourself, have never suffered from addiction issues before and are struggling to understand why your loved ones is making the choices they are.

You might at times feel frustrated, angry or even guilty. Your lack of understanding might sometimes impact how you communicate and handle the situation.

This is why it is important to understand the ins and outs of addiction so that you can be a better support to your loved one who is suffering from addiction issues.

This article will highlight the different challenges you might face if your loved one is suffering from an addiction as well as some practical advice on how you can support them through recovery.

This guide will help you to foster a healthy and supportive environment for your loved one, so that your relationship is able to remain positive and strong.

A young woman sits at a table, looking distressed with her hands on her head, with a glass of amber liquid in front of her, symbolizing her struggle with alcohol addiction.

Addiction is a Family Disease

Addiction does not just impact those who are addicted. Addiction is a family disease, meaning that it impacts family and everyone closely connected to the individual suffering.

When an individual suffers from addiction issues, they also tend to suffer from loneliness, isolation, employment and financial difficulties as well as mental health issues.

These all have an impact on the people surrounding the individual and can add a huge amount of pressure on stress onto them as they attempt to help and keep everything together.

Unfortunately, there is a general lack of awareness when it comes to why people become addicted to drugs or other substances such as alcohol in the first place.

Moreso, there is also a stigma surrounding addiction that you are simply able to 'stop' whenever you want, and that addiction and substance abuse is a choice. It is important to understand that addiction and substance abuse is not a moral failing, but an illness [1].

Like any other illness, addiction needs treatment in order to make a full recovery. However, a lot of individuals supporting sufferers have a general lack of understanding when it comes to the recovery process and might not understand the full extent of the illness and how much time and patience is needed in order to recover.

Recovering without the support of your family, friends or loved ones becomes very difficult. Without support, it is easy to feel isolated and alone, and even harder to stay on track when it comes to your treatment plan.

When supporting someone who is recovering from addiction issues, it is important to remain empathetic, rather than judgemental. Until you have been in their position, it is impossible to understand what they are going through. Below is some more information on what they might be experiencing and some top tips on how you might be able to help them during this time.

The Recovery Process: What Loved Ones Need to Know

If you are supporting someone with an addiction issue and do not know much about the recovery process, then below is a step by step guide on how the recovery process works and what you can do to support your loved one during this time.

The first stage of recovery is professional treatment. Remember, addiction is a disease and not a moral failing, so it requires professional treatment. The first stage of treatment (if you are addicted to a physically addictive substance) is to undergo a medical detox. Families supporting a loved one may want to explore options ranging from hospital-based detox to luxury detox centers, which can reduce stress during this difficult stage.

1. The Medical Detox

A medical detox is when you withdraw from abusing the addictive substance so that your body no longer craves it. A detox can take up to 10 days and should be done within a professional rehab facility, unless you have been approved to undergo a alcohol detox from your own home. This will only be the case if your addiction is deemed suitable for a home detox due the fact that it is less severe [2].

The medical detox and withdrawal process is often the hardest part of anyone's recovery process due to the unpleasantness of the withdrawal process. The withdrawal process involves a number of withdrawal symptoms including sickness, the shakes, being physically sick, stomach upset and anxiety.

For a loved one, you need to remember that your loved one will be struggling both physically and mentally during this time, and they are not overexaggerating or being dramatic when they express how much they are struggling. Hopefully, this process will not last more than 10 days, but it can do if your loved ones is severely addicted to a substance.

Top tip: try to be as motivational as possible during this time, by reminding them of your support and how proud you are that they've taken this first step to recovery. Remind them that their systems will not last forever and support them as much as you can physically by being present and monitoring their symptoms closely.

2. Therapy

The second stage of addiction treatment is therapy. Therapy plays a crucial role in anyone's recovery process and allows an individual to come to terms with what they have been through. It is often the case that someone who suffers from addiction issues is also suffering from a mental health issue.

When an individual suffers from both at the same time, this is known as a dual diagnosis. A dual diagnosis means that therapy is an incredibly important part of the process, as the individual might not even be aware that they suffer from the likes of depression, anxiety or paranoia.

During this stage, your loved one will get to the bottom of any triggers or traumas that they might have experienced [1]. Often, the root cause of their addiction is uncovered, which can be a particularly difficult time for loved ones to hear, especially if they were present at the time of any trauma or have contributed in any way to their loved ones addiction issues.

Top tip: during this time, try not to take anything that they say or learn personally. They are uncovering and learning a lot about themselves which might make them feel differently to certain people or circumstances. Remind your loved one that you are there for them and ready to actively listen and learn during this time.

3. Aftercare

Aftercare is a hugely important part of anyone's recovery journey and should not be overlooked. For some people suffering from an addiction issue, aftercare lasts months and even sometimes years.

During this time, you will likely be there to support them during aftercare sessions with a therapist or to support them as they attend support groups for the first time. Entering the world again after being in a rehab facility can seem incredibly daunting, which is why it is important to take it step by step.

Top tip: be as patient as possible during this time, and take each day as it comes. It's wonderful that your loved one has undergone rehab treatment, but the hard work is not over yet. Unfortunately, lots of people who recover from addiction go on to relapse again in the future. Be patient and avoid pushing them too far, too quickly.

What to Do and What Not to Do

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to supporting loved ones during addiction issues and the treatment process, there are some general do's and don'ts during this time that are best to stick by if possible. Of course, you should always use your own discretion and judgement as to how to act.

What to do

Be emotionally supportive
Be as encouraging as possible
Set clear boundaries as to how they can behave and cannot behave
Educate yourself as much as possible on the recovery process and how addiction works
Listen without judgement
Be a safe space for them to rant or get emotional
Protect your own wellbeing
Remove drugs and alcohol from the home
Avoid attending to hosting an event or occasion where substances might be present
Be open to attending family or group therapy sessions with them
Find and participate in sober activities and hobbies together
Keep any promises you make to them and be reliable
Validate their emotions
Actively listen to their emotions, thoughts or concerns

What not to do

Do not enable their addiction or any other negative behaviours
Do not consume or abuse drugs or alcohol in front of them
Do not become too controlling or micromanage them
Do not judge them
Do not shame them
Do not get frustrated at how long recovery is taking
Do not make them feel guilty
Do not violate their privacy

Self-Care for Family Members

If your loved one is in recovery and you are working hard to support them, do not forget to also look after yourself during this process. Caring for your own emotional, mental and physical health is just as important as theirs [3].

There are a wide range of support groups and helplines available to family members during this time, including Al-Anon and family therapy.

It is normal to experience feelings of guilt and resentment during a time like this, so it is important not to feel bad for being angry or frustrated, as long as you channel those emotions into something positive for your loved one.

Recovery from addiction is possible with the right support by your side. Families play a vital role in a person's recovery and remaining resilient during this tough time will contribute to making your family and relationships stronger than ever.