Tips to Keep Your Loved One Sober
Ok, so your loved one just got home from drug rehabilitation treatment. You are nervous because you don’t want to do anything that may contribute to a relapse. At the same time, though, you want to make sure you take the right steps to help prevent a relapse. So, where do you start?
What can you do that won’t negatively impact your loved one while at the same time putting in place boundaries to help keep them sober.
Ensure They Stay Busy
One of the biggest reasons people use drugs in the first place can be boredom. It is no different for recovering addicts. Before leaving treatment, they should have written out goals. Ask to have a copy of it. If they didn’t do this before leaving the treatment center, have them write down their goals. This way, you can keep track of whether they are working on their plans. It also gives you a healthy way to push them to stay busy by checking up on their progress and assist them where needed to stay on track to reach their goals.
Get Them Informed
When your loved one comes back from treatment, ideally, you would work them as a team. Working together to make their life much more stable and healthy. This is why I would recommend you have them read up on tips for staying sober. You can see our sober tips here:
Keep Track of Their Finances
This might seem a little crazy to them and even to you. Despite any feelings about this idea, it is an excellent way of keeping in trust and accountability. Have them use their bank card and not withdraw cash. These days there is no need for them to be carrying cash. If you start seeing a bunch of money withdraws, or they quit depositing the money they make from work, it can be a sign that funds are being diverted for drug use.
You get the idea. The goal here is to create an environment that is good and healthy for both you and the recovering addict. Doubt and mystery can be one of the worst things for an individual’s recovery and for their families. It causes worry and can lead to accusations and fights, which put the person in recovery at a higher risk of relapse.
Explain to Them That They Will Have to Hearn Your Trust Back
Either before they get home from addiction treatment or as soon as possible when they return home, you should calmly go over the fact that it will take time for you to trust them again fully. This is when you can outline what you expect of them. They can go over their feelings about things as well. Before you begin, both parties should agree that they will remain calm throughout the process and continue the conversation until good understanding is achieved on both sides.
They Should Have a Curfew
There is a reason why most halfway houses have this as part of their rules. Unless you are working, there is nothing going on past 11 pm. Now at halfway houses, if you are going to spend the night somewhere else, you have to request this and have earned the right to do so through your time spent at the halfway house. On top of this, if you stay out for a night, you will be drug tested as soon as you come back and you have an agreed-upon check-in time.
Talk to the Rehab Program
Make sure you talk with the treatment program before your loved one returns home. Discuss with them what actions you should take in the case of a relapse, or a suspected relapse. Don’t leave things up to chance. If you are prepared, chances are the worst won’t happen. A good rehab program will ensure you have a point of contact who you can communicate to once your loved one comes back home. They should be there for you to answer any questions and to assist with anything that may come up.
You will have to work with these tips and find what works best for your situation. Following the guidelines in this list, will give you and your loved one a better chance of moving forward and not looking back.
