How to Help a Recovering Addict Stay Sober

Addiction is an incredibly damaging and widely misunderstood disease. Millions worldwide are suffering from a range of addictions, from psychoactive drugs and alcohol to gaming or gambling. The fight to overcome their addiction is a daily battle. It has been shown by many studies that the addicts who have the best chance of recovery have a lot of support from their friends and family. 

Addiction can be a very destructive condition, particularly on an interpersonal level. It can be challenging for partners, friends, and family to be around a loved one with an addiction. However, if you can help them to overcome their problem, then it will not only help this person but will also bring back the personality you remember. There are various stages of recovery, as well as different methods to overcome an addiction. While different people need other things, there are definitely some tried and tested methods for defeating the disease.

Aside from accepting the fact they have a serious problem, the first thing that addicts need to do is get out of the environment where their addictive behavior encounters little to no barriers. A specialized rehabilitation (rehab) center is the best place for addiction treatment. These places are designed to help people build a life that doesn’t center around whatever they are addicted to. Helping someone you care for choose a rehab center and showing your support by visiting and picking them up at the end of their treatment will show them that they are not in this alone. Many rehab centers don’t allow visits, and some even restrict phone calls or texts, so make sure to find out what lines of communication are permitted.

Quality rehab facilities should be designed and run by addiction specialists who must ensure an entirely safe environment.  During the treatment, there should be no possibility of accessing any substances or illegal activities. Also, the usual life triggers that set the addictive behavior off shouldn’t exist. Moving from this safe environment back into their old world can be extremely hard for addicts, and so many end up relapsing soon after. For many people, a transitional period in a halfway house between the rehab center and the real world can be extremely useful in reducing the chances of a relapse. This kind of housing gives recovering addicts a safe place to live and all the support they need during their stay. It also helps them set up a new life with staff supporting them to find a house and apply for a job. Different places have varying levels of strictness, so discuss what they think they need and talk it over with the professionals.

Overcoming addiction involves significantly more than just not drinking alcohol or avoiding betters. It is about creating a new life where you are not a slave to that substance or activity. One of the most effective ways to do this is by incorporating more productive things into your life, like a job or a new hobby. Many people lose their jobs due to their addiction, and hobbies, friends, and commitments are discarded as more and more time and effort is spent satisfying their cravings. Rebuilding a life starts with getting back to normality, and you can support your loved one by helping them fill in job applications, accompanying them to the gym, or taking them out for the day. Remember, a person now needs to rethink their entire life in a new light.

Addiction is such a dangerous disease because the things that many people become addicted to are so readily available. Many people think of addiction as being about taking some illegal drugs, but most people are addicted to perfectly legal things that many of us enjoy. It is vital to remember that addicts cannot control themselves, so you need to set an example. While you may want a glass of wine with dinner, if you are with a recovering alcoholic, drink water that evening instead. If you like to place a bet on football on a Saturday, but watching with your friend who is recovering from a gambling addiction, take that weekend off and just enjoy the game.

When helping a loved one with an addiction, it is essential to remember that it is a disease. Most addicts have no control over themselves, and so it is a constant struggle to stay away from whatever substance or another thing they are addicted to. The love and support you give can be the difference between your friend or family member finally getting better or relapsing back to square one. The important thing is to try to remain positive and not let anything overcome you. Follow this guide, and see if you can make a difference in your loved one’s recovery.