When a loved one is going through the journey of recovery, it can be difficult to engage in conversation. You may want to discuss their setbacks and encourage their success. However, you may not know how to do this.
Determining the best things to say and ways to communicate with a loved one in recovery can be challenging. Using these techniques, you can find an effective way to communicate while still providing support.
Stay Positive
Remaining positive can be challenging as you are watching your loved one struggle. You may feel negative emotions towards them or the situation, making positivity difficult to uphold. It is important to address the negative emotions that arise. However, staying positive can make this journey more bearable for both you and your loved one.
The loved one in recovery has likely heard an endless number of negative comments regarding their addiction. Having that continued within your relationship will only cause more stress on their overall condition. Remaining positive about the situation and encouraging them can help them gain the motivation they may need to be successful in their treatment journey.
Be Supportive of Your Loved One
Many people wish to support a loved one in treatment as much as possible. This can be difficult to do during moments of relapse. If your loved one encounters a relapse, your first instinct may be to display your anger or criticize them. When you have been working to support them through their journey, a relapse affects not only them but you and their other support members as well. While you may feel upset about this occurrence, it is important to stay strong.
You may choose to inform them you are disappointed or share your opinions. It is okay to show the severity of the situation. However, ensure this is done in an effective way, rather than tearing the individual down even more. Discuss the occasion of the relapse and what potential triggers may have led to this occurrence. Try to discuss their relapse prevention plan moving forward. Ask how you can assist during future endeavors to avoid this from re-occurring.
Celebrate Their Progress
It is also important to show support through the positive aspects of recovery. Many people take for granted when their loved one starts making great progress. Don’t allow that progress to go unrecognized. Let them know that you acknowledge the efforts they have put in. Remind them that you are proud. You may still want to ask for ways you can be of assistance to help them continue this success.
Be Respectful of Your Loved One
As humans, we all thrive when treated with respect. It can be easy for individuals in recovery to feel undermined because of their substance use disorder (SUD). They may feel that they don’t deserve to be treated with respect. Of course, this is not the case!
Treating your loved one with respect can reinforce their abilities. Remember: they are an adult and deserve to be treated as one. When you have difficult things to discuss, try to discuss them respectfully. Resist the urge to blame or put them down.
Utilize Family Therapy
Family therapy is a great resource for individuals in recovery and their loved ones. Take advantage of this opportunity to create a safe and monitored space for each of you to address your concerns. In family therapy, the therapist you work with may help you correct your communication. You can learn how to communicate your concerns with your loved one in a way that positively contributes to their recovery.
If you want to communicate a concern with your loved one in a beneficial way, consider addressing it within the family therapy setting. In this setting, you can receive feedback from a professional on your communication patterns. You can gain assistance for your loved one to listen and interpret the concern you are addressing.
Show Your Loved One You Care
It is important to show your loved one in recovery that you care about them. These individuals often feel that they have let down everyone around them. This often greatly impacts their self-esteem.
Letting your loved one know you care about their success and believe in them can go a long way. Depending on your relationship, you may want to hug them or use some form of affection to show that you still are there for them.
Being involved in their treatment journey throughout the recovery process is another great way to show care. If you are only there for the easy moments of the relationship, your loved one may not feel cared for. Staying involved through each aspect of treatment and following up on their success and failures can show your loved one that you truly care about their long-term well-being.
When a loved one is in recovery, you may develop various negative emotions or feelings toward the individual or their situation. While this is a stressful period for everyone involved, bringing a negative outlook onto the situation does not better the opportunity in any way. It is important to understand how to effectively communicate with your loved one to influence their success in recovery. Keeping a positive mindset and communication patterns, staying supportive, and upholding respect are all essential components of healthy conversations for a loved one in recovery. Take advantage of family therapy services to assist you through any communication difficulties that arise. To learn more, reach out to Dream Recovery at (657) 216-7218.
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