How To Help Your Partner Cope with Drug Abuse
Recovery?
When you have a partner or spouse dealing with addiction or a drinking problem, it can be challenging for you. Not only might you feel emotionally drained but mentally strained, too.
In such situations, the step in the right direction would be to consult professionals and go to rehab. Professional guidance and counseling can help you deal with the situation and your partner/spouse overcome addiction. There are different types of treatment that the counselor might advise.
But even after the treatment, the process of recovery isn’t streamlined. There are chances of relapse, and supporting an addict through the recovery journey is taxing on its own. Hence you should have the tools and knowledge needed to support them.
Even when the person has reached sobriety, there is a long road ahead of them where they will need extensive support and care.
If the question “how do I support my partner or spouse in their journey to battling drug abuse?” lingers in your mind day and night, then you have reached the right place.
Here are some tips on how to be an anchor for your spouse/partner in their journey toward sobriety.
1 – Let them work on themselves
You must ensure that your partner puts their sobriety as the priority. It should hold prime importance, and you should be fine with it as it is for the better.
A lot of people get jealous seeing their partner making new friends and going out. You must understand that sobriety is a critical element of your life, and you should learn to respect it.
So be supportive of them and let them work on their program. Try making a distance between the program and avoid getting involved in it. Let your partner share the things that they wish to share. Support and encourage your partner while they work on themselves. It is essential that they learn new ways of life.
2 – You should heal too
Addiction and abuse take a toll on the person involved and the family and close ones. It can be taxing to go through this, and it takes a bad toll on your mental health. Hence, taking the time to work on yourself and even going for counseling can be great in building back pieces of your mental stability.
When your partner works on themself, you can also use this time to de-stress and heal yourself. You can learn to take care of yourself and even establish healthy boundaries. You can also go for couple therapy, which can benefit both of you.
3 – Never take anything personally
One essential thing you can learn through this process is how to manage your emotions. When your partner is going through recovery, you will be facing a lot of problems and issues too. There are a lot of complications that you would have to face. Never take things personally or take any blame on yourself.
There are chances of relapse, which can be hard for both of you. But never take things personally and understand the nature of addiction. Your role is to encourage and support your partner while they work on the addiction.
4 – Take time to build things
You need to understand that it will take time to build the bond and trust that you had. For the wounds to heal, you would have to put in the effort and give it some time. You can find activities to do together to build the bond you once shared. You can go on dates to discuss the different aspects of your life.
With time and experience, it will be easier for both of you to return to your past self. You can heal your wounds and bond with the experiences you will have together.
5 – You need to have patience
Patience is one thing you should show throughout this process. Patience is the key here; only that can help you and your partner.
You would have some expectations with your partner that they might fulfill. After your spouse has completed rehab, there might be a time when you will have to adjust, and it will be challenging for them. It can be a very frustrating phase, but you need to have some empathy and patience here. Understand that you are both at different phases in life and will be moving through difficulty and problems at different paces.
Over to you,
Make sure to keep the points mentioned above in mind and deal with your partner in the most loving and caring manner while they are in the addiction recovery stage. It is advised to deal with them most encouragingly and lovingly. Avoid seeming intimidating. The last thing you want to do is scare them in any way.
If you are looking for an establishment where you can take your spouse for Medicaid Suboxone Treatment, consider checking out Cooperative Recovery.