Do you know someone who is struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction? Have they decided to finally get addiction rehab treatment? This is a huge accomplishment in itself. Now would be a good time to learn how to support a loved one who is going through an addiction detox program.
The detox process can be challenging. It requires preparation, patience, faith and courage. It really is one day at a time. If you are needing to support a loved one who is going through this process, it is important to better understand their addiction, what they are going through and why certain things are happening.
The Importance of Detox
In certain ways, the word detox falls a bit short of what it actually requires a person to go through. When most people think of detoxing, they think of getting chemicals from food out of their system. Well, drugs and alcohol are chemicals/substances, too. They are just harder to stop using than foods or drinks. It is more difficult for the body to learn to function without drugs and alcohol. It takes a toll on the liver and the kidneys as they eliminate the toxins from the blood.
Once someone quits using drugs or drinking alcohol, their body goes through the withdrawal stage. This is when the person is often dealing with cravings and other withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shakes
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
Many people forget to think about what happens to the patient and their body when these withdrawal symptoms begin. Sometimes, it can become very chaotic and/or even life-threatening. This is just one of the reasons why our ARIA FL team highly recommends that people attend an addiction detox program. That way, they can get the psychological and medical support that is so greatly needed during this process. People are much more likely to make it through the withdrawal process safely when they get professional help, as well.
Best Ways to Support a Loved One Through the Detox Process
One of the most difficult aspects of recovery is the detox process. During this process, the body will start sending signals thinking it needs alcohol or drugs to function. This can make it extremely challenging for anyone to stay sober. However, if you know someone who is trying to overcome their addiction and is in this stage of the recovery process, there are ways you can support them.
You have already taken the first step in admitting that your loved one needs help through drug or alcohol addiction detox and rehab. You started learning about what this process entails and what you will need to do. The knowledge you are now equipped with can help you to be more compassionate for your loved one throughout, not only their detox process but their entire recovery process, as well.
One of the most important things you can do to support your loved one through the detox process is to picture what their life will look like after they finish detoxing and get through with the addiction rehab treatment program. When you picture this, there will likely be certain things that your loved one won’t want or be able to be around such as:
- Drugs or alcohol should not be in your home
- Don’t use or buy alcohol or drugs in front of your loved one
- Don’t get prescription medications in front of your loved one
- Lock up your prescription drugs
- Be open to going to family therapy sessions with your loved one
- Create and maintain fun, substance-free and supportive activities to enjoy with your loved one
- Keep positive and always be there for your loved one to talk to when they need to vent or just have someone to listen to them
If you can make these changes, it can go a long way in supporting your loved one throughout their detox process. It can also help them to have a lower risk of relapsing once they get home from the drug or alcohol treatment program, too.
What Happens After Addiction Detox
Some people think once a person gets through the detox process, they are good to go for their recovery and don’t need to do anything else. Detoxing is only the beginning of an amazing recovery. Once the person is done with detox, they move through medical assessments and into actionable, specific treatment plan goals. Your loved one will be attending counseling to learn better coping skills, recovery techniques and how to live their life without drugs and alcohol.
After your loved one gets through their rehab treatment program, they move to the aftercare portion of their recovery. The purpose of this stage is to help lower the risk of relapse and give recovering addicts the support they need when they go back home. During the aftercare stage, there are 12-step programs, support groups and other addiction recovery resources available.
It is a good idea to remember that your loved one won’t stop needing help just because they finish with the detox program. They are going to need your continued support long after the detox program is over. If you want to know more about what you can do to support your loved one during their stay in a detox treatment center or when they are in outpatient detox treatments let us know today. Our team would be happy to help you prepare for this stage in your loved one’s recovery.
Get Your Loved One Into a Detox Program Here at ARIA FL Today
Do you know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol? If so, are you wondering how you are going to support them throughout the detox program? What about through the rest of their recovery process? The first thing to note is that it is normal to not know what you are supposed to do to help and support a loved one while they work on their recovery. This is why family therapy and support groups are so essential to the recovery process. They help the recovering addict and their loved ones to learn about addictions and how to work the recovery process.
Here at ARIA FL, our treatment center has many concerned, caring specialists who want to see everyone succeed in their recovery. If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, there are so many things you can do to support them in this process, as well.
Contact us today to start supporting your loved one throughout their detox program. We would be happy to guide you through this process and other parts of the recovery process, too.