Friends and family members try hard to support the ones they love in rehab and want to see them as often as possible. However, often times friends and family don’t understand what’s expected of them or how to act once they enter a facility. And even with the best intentions, visits in rehab can sometimes turn sour leaving you and the one you love with hurt feelings and emotions. The following is a common Do’s and Don’ts list to visiting your loved one in addiction rehab.
DO:
- Meet with the staff – make it a point to meet the treatment staff. Ask questions about your loved one’s progress, visitation policies of the facility, what you can do to help, and any other matters you need to know about.
- Visit – come as often as you can, even if it is only for a short time. Or call, as some treatment centers allow patients to use their cell phones after as little as one weeks time. Some centers encourage the family to attend addiction education or family workshop sessions – so go to them. The bottom line is, your loved one needs to know you care about them and their recovery.
- Meet promptly – make it a point to arrive at the facility on time in order to keep his or her schedule consistent. Remember, routine and structure is everything in recovery.
- Foster encouragement – your loved one has a long road ahead, give them all the praise, love, and support they need.
DON’T:
- Mention the future – keep topics light. Being in the moment is important during recovery, so avoid conversations about where they will be after recovery. Topics like what kind of job they’ll have, or where they’ll live is not recommended. For now, the focus is not using drugs and alcohol.
- Discuss finances – if you are paying for rehab, forego mentioning how expensive it is or if you’re taking on another job to pay for their treatment and so on. Reminding your loved one of how much you’re paying for their recovery can bring about feelings of shame which can trigger a relapse.
- Discuss problems or rehash past issues – discussing details of drama among friends or family fights are not helpful to the recovery process. And rehashing old issues prior to rehab can elicit feelings of deep sadness and guilt in your loved one, triggering a relapse.
Treatment for Addiction
Addiction is isolating, but having friends and family visit can truly help in the recovery process. If you or a loved one is suffering from a mental health condition and a substance use disorder or addiction, get help now. Mental health, substance use disorders, and addiction are treatable and there is hope in recovery.
If you’re ready to begin taking great strides towards your health and wellbeing, speak with a professional from Alta Loma today. Mental illness should be taken seriously and, if not treated early on, more severe conditions can arise. The best way to promote happiness and health is to seek help – and to begin using effective interventions for treating the problematic symptoms a person is experiencing. Don’t wait any longer to seek the help you need. Please call Alta Loma today – and you’ll be surrounded by a healthcare team who truly cares about your recovery. 866-457-3843
