Alcohol Recovery Center: Advice From a Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center on Supporting Your Loved One During the Holidays

Drug and alcohol recovery centers can teach a former addict how to exist in society without falling back into old habits. Unfortunately, even the best rehab facilities in the country can fall short when it comes to preparing you for the holidays. The holiday season evokes lots of emotion in each of us. Thanks to the endless parties and family gatherings that take place, the temptation to abuse substances is everywhere. If you have a loved one who relapses during the holidays, absolutely direct them back to a drug and alcohol recovery center. If you find them to be struggling, here are a few tips on how you can support them and make this trying time a little less traumatic:

Get Educated and Get Involved. It is imperative that family member’s learn about the disease of addiction. It’s not reasonable to think you’ll be able to effectively support someone through a challenging time if you’re not educated on their issues. In addition, do not ignore your loved one’s drug and alcohol recovery efforts, encourage them. A quality rehab facility should provide some sort of family counseling that advises you on how to make the transition smoother in addition to teaching you about addiction.

Promote a Sober Environment. Especially around the holidays when it seems like drugs and alcohol are everywhere, it’s important to remove all temptations possible from your home. It’s also recommended that you refrain from abusing substances in front of them or appearing to be intoxicated. All of these instances can have an undermining effect on your loved one’s recovery.

Help Reduce Stress. Drug and alcohol recovery can be helped along greatly by taking steps to reduce the amount of stress in your loved one’s life. Since so many tales of substance abuse start with an individual’s inability to effectively cope with stress and anxiety, try and be as helpful and supportive as possible in areas that you’re able to. This can include having a set schedule so they know where they’re supposed to be, helping out with the kids if applicable and other things of that nature.

Keep an Eye Out for Relapse. Don’t sit idly by if you feel a relapse is imminent. Waiting for one to happen to act is too late. Again, get involved. Offer companionship, an ear to listen, visit them if they live out of town, whatever they need. And of course if things get too difficult to manage, recommend that they spend some time with a drug and alcohol recovery counselor to help get back on the right track.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself. It can be easy to forget about your own needs while caring for a loved one in drug and alcohol recovery, but you must remember to make yourself a priority as well. You can’t take care of someone else if you neglect yourself, and that goes for the family members of recovering addicts as well.

Free by the Sea | Drug & Alcohol Recovery Center – Our beautiful 5 acre campus provides a serene healing environment that inspires patients to discover new possibilities for a life of recovery. Our first 30 days of treatment includes individual treatment plans based on the needs of the client and addresses disease and recovery education, relapse prevention, anger management, emotion regulation, art therapy, meditation, 12 step meetings, life skills, transition and integration. An extended care program is offered to our patients who have stayed a minimum of 30 days. This allows for a continued focus on his/her relapse prevention needs and deeper issues to improve their quality of life, providing an even greater opportunity for success after completing our program. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact our supportive staff at 800-272-9199 or 360-665-4494.