Self-Care Is Critical
- You’ve done a stupendous job taking care of the addict and alcoholic in your life until now. However much you might have enabled them, been codependent, and done things in less than the right way, you did what you felt you have to do to take care of them and take care of everyone else. Now, it’s time to take care of yourself.
Work Your Own Program
- Your loved one in treatment isn’t the only one who has to recover from addiction or alcoholism. So do you! You have to recover from what the years of active addiction and alcoholism have done to you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Find a therapist or a counselor to work on deeper issues. Go to Al-Anon meetings, read spiritual and self-help books, and create your own program of recovery.
Encourage Your Family To Do The Same
- Ala-teen is a great program for sons and daughters who have been affected by a parent’s alcoholism. There are local support groups and therapy groups to help the family system recover. Most treatment centers offer family therapy and family program weekends which allow everyone to heal. Don’t assume everyone else has gone unaffected.
Pick Up A Big Book
- Unless your loved one is in a specifically non-twelve step program where they will not be attending any kind of twelve step meetings, the twelve steps are going to become a big part of their lives. For many years Alcoholics Anonymous was the only book with an explanation for alcoholism. Read into what the book says and learn more about what your loved one will be learning.
Be Prepared For Relapse
- Your loved one might have a slip and go running back to recovery. They might have a slip and go running away from recovery. Relapse does not have to be a part of your loved one’s story but it certainly can be. Remove the expectation that everything is going to be perfect, better, and safe from now on. There is always a possibility. You and your family can equip yourselves to prepare for a relapse and stay safe as well as sane in the process.
Have Yourself Some Fun
- Having fun, making meaning, and creating connections is something that your loved one is learning to do one day at a time in recovery. Fun is something you and your family probably need to have a little bit more of. Learn to enjoy yourself again. Life is good!
Family is important in recovery. When your loved one finally makes the decision to heal, you get to heal as well. Our residential programs include family weekends and family therapy to help the whole family heal. For more information or to schedule a private tour, call 877.762.3707 today.