Saddened man experiencing Relapse

How To Support an Addict Who Has Relapsed

Relapse- this can be the scariest word to the loved one or family member of an individual with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. But unfortunately, relapse is an all too common part of the journey towards sobriety. While the right Philadelphia interventionist or sober escort in Virginia can give your loved one the best shot at long-term recovery, addiction education is no guarantee that they won’t experience a relapse. However, it’s certainly still worth pursuing an interventionist in South Jersey, an interventionist in Richmond, Virginia or sober coaching in Manhattan. Recovery care monitoring and recovery care management are two incredibly helpful tools in helping your loved one, friend or family member start a sober life they can feel proud of. However, in the case that they have relapsed, an Atlanta interventionist will tell you that there is certain protocol to follow- and also certain things to avoid. Without further ado, here are a few tips to remember when an addict in your life has relapsed.

Remember That This Is Not Your Battle to Fight

If you can understand that the battle with addiction and subsequent relapse is an addict’s to fight, this will help you cope with your situation. A major premise of the philosophy behind Al-Anon and Nar-Anon is that you can only control what you can control- and this does not include your addict or their ability to stay sober. Not only will understanding this help you, but it will help to foster a sense of autonomy in your addict that often aids recovery.

Hold Your Ground

Ray Isackila, assistant clinical and administrative director of addiction recovery services at University Hospitals in Cleveland, says it is important to stay firm when a loved one struggling with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder has relapsed. “Hold addicts accountable for their recovery from the relapse, just as it was important to hold them accountable for their addiction in the first place.”

handsBe Encouraging

Helpful things you can do when a loved one has relapsed include encouraging them to talk to a counselor or sponsor, to go to an addiction support group meeting, and generally to redirect them to their original addiction treatment plan. Often times, Sober escorts in Virginia, Washington D.C. sober coaching and New York sober companions can be helpful additions to your attempts to encourage your addict back towards recovery and sobriety.

What Not to Do-

Perhaps the most important thing not to do is to dismiss the problem. “You don’t make excuses for the addict. It’s also crucial that you don’t try to take on your loved one’s problems,” says Isackila. Furthermore, don’t try to take away any guilt about the relapse, as this can often actually be a helpful tool to get addicts back into sobriety.

If your loved one has relapsed, it can often be an upsetting, emotional time. This highlights the importance of listening to the above advice, as well as enlisting help. If you’re looking for a Virginia interventionist, a Connecticut sober coach, or a Manhattan sober escort, look no further than Recovery Care Partner. Recovery Care Partner will help you and your addict garner the tools necessary for long-term sobriety.