Your loved one has spent the last weeks or months at an alcohol rehab receiving detox and addiction treatment and now you are preparing for his or her return. While they were away, you had a chance to focus on yourself in a way that you haven’t since you first realized that your loved one was living with cocaine addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, prescription drug addiction or other addiction. Now that they are coming home, this is your chance to prepare yourself physically and mentally so that it’s as positive an experience as it can be.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Socially

Hopefully you’ve been investing some time in developing a social network of positive people who are supportive of you and what you’re going through with your loved one’s addiction. Whether this is through old friends, new friends, family members or 12-step support groups, this is an essential part of your life that you will need to maintain after your loved one returns home.

Keep in mind that your loved one may be uncomfortable with you discussing your issues with their addiction with other people. Remind him or her that they have the freedom to do this at their own 12-step meetings and with their friends and that isolating you is not good or appropriate.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Physically

Emotional exhaustion and stress take a physical toll on the body and though you are likely recovered from the experience of living with your loved one’s addiction, you will need to do a little maintenance to stay in the state. Sometimes it’s as simple as a yoga class, regular workouts or time spent in the sauna at the gym. Others prefer a more pampered relaxation experience and opt for regular spa stays or massage. If you have a regular routine that keeps you relaxed and physically fit, don’t neglect it after your loved one returns. Stick to your schedule no matter what.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Mentally

You’ll certainly have a number of expectations when your loved one comes home after alcohol addiction treatment. Sobriety, certainly, is one of those expectations, but you may also have hopes that your loved one will be in a better mood, not be sick like they were during addiction, and treat you better. The best thing to do is to let go of all your ideas about how things “should” be after alcohol rehab. Your loved one may feel pressured and resentful of your ideas, and if you press them, fights could result. Instead, give your loved one the space they need to build a new life for themselves in recovery. They will need to be able to attend 12-step meetings, go to personal therapy, look for jobs, go to work, and make new friends who are also clean and sober.

By all means, encourage your loved one in these pursuits and voice your concerns if you believe that he or she is making choices that will lead to relapse. Ultimately, however, you cannot control whether or not relapse occurs. All you can do is decide how you will handle it if it does happen ahead of time and then follow through.

Tags: alcohol detox, Alcohol Rehab, alcohol treatment help, alcohol-addiction-treatment, family and addiction, family and addiction treatment

   

About Valeria W.

       

Valeria W. likes to consider herself "an encyclopedia" of addiction and rehab knowledge. Valeria lives to hear from people who have been positively influenced by her work - and sought out drug or alcohol rehab help as a result of the information she has provided.

Also written by: Valeria W.