Opioid addiction treatment programs always ensure that people understand relapses are possible, but actually seeing your loved one going through this can leave you feeling unsure of how you can help. You may be afraid of making the situation worse or might not be sure if the person would welcome your help.
If your loved one is living with an opioid abuse disorder and going through a relapse, there are steps you can take to get them back on track. Ultimately, the decision will be theirs, but offering the support they need can make a difference through this very difficult time. Learn more about opioid relapses and how you can help at Promises Behavioral Health.
How to Help a Loved One Through Opioid Relapse
Supporting a loved one through an opioid relapse can be challenging, but approaching the situation with compassion and understanding is crucial. Focus on offering encouragement and reminding them that recovery is still possible.
Here are several things you can do when a loved one suffers an opioid relapse:
Don’t Shame or Blame
It can be very frustrating to see your loved one falling back into old habits. It’s normal to feel anger, but it’s important to understand that addiction is a relapsing disorder.
Just as you would not get angry at someone who has an asthma attack after months of remission, you should not get angry at your loved one for experiencing an opioid relapse.
Shaming or blaming them will only make the situation worse. It’s likely your loved one is already feeling upset about the relapse, so piling on criticism can make it too overwhelming and could have the opposite effect that you want.
Some phrases to avoid saying include:
- “How could you do this to me?”
- “Why did you throw all of the recovery time away?”
- “Why can’t you just stop?”
Instead, let them know that you understand they’re struggling, but you’re also upset and worried. Open up the discussion so that you can both express your feelings without getting defensive.
Maintain Healthy Boundaries
It’s likely that you already have boundaries in place from before your loved one began their recovery. Put them to use again. Remember, there’s a difference between supporting someone and enabling them.
Letting your loved one know that you won’t help them financially if they don’t get sober again and ensuring they understand you won’t allow opioids in the home can both be excellent boundaries to set. Consider options that fit your situation best.
Address Your Feelings
It’s not healthy to keep what you’re going through bottled up, either. You may not want to speak with your loved one about the anger and frustration you feel, but you can reach out to others or even write everything in a journal. Doing so can give you perspective and ensure you don’t say something you’ll regret later on.
It can also be helpful to attend support groups for family members of those who are living with addictions. You can speak with people who are going through the same situation.
Encourage Your Loved One to Get Help
It’s also important to encourage your loved one to speak with their sponsors, attend 12-step programs, or go to a recovery program. They may feel discouraged and even think it’s pointless, so it can help to remind them that relapses happen and don’t mean the treatment they received failed.
It’s a good idea to have a plan ready to go when you have this conversation. You can show them brochures of treatment programs or offer to drive them to the nearest meeting.
Help a Loved One Recover From Opioid Abuse at Promises Behavioral Health
Opioid addiction is a complex condition, and it’s common for those in recovery to stumble at least once. If a loved one has relapsed, offering them the assistance they need can mean setting boundaries while encouraging them to get help in an opioid addiction treatment program.
At Promises Behavioral Health, we provide a number of services that can help address addiction and relapses. Your loved one can receive the exact level of support they need with our team. Contact Promises Behavioral Health at 844.875.5609 or through our online contact form to learn more about how we can make a difference for someone who has relapsed.