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How to Communicate With a Loved One Who’s in Rehab

Drug and alcohol abuse can have devastating effects not just in the person’s body, but within their family as well. It is natural to experience conflicting emotions when a loved one is dealing with addiction. On one hand, you may feel angry at them for the consequences of their actions while on the other hand, you may feel anxious because you want them to receive treatment.

Communicating with your loved one who’s in rehab may not be the easiest of tasks, but it’s a necessary step that will help guide them in the right direction. It’s important, to be honest, and constructive when talking to your loved one so they can understand where you’re coming from.

Here’s how you can communicate effectively with your loved ones to help rebuild your relationships and foster trust in each other.

Begin With Love

You may have grown to despise addiction and everything it ruined for your friend or family member. However, your loved one is not the disease, meaning that you can still love them despite their past actions. If your loved one is in a drug & alcohol rehab center in Bali, understand there will be some parts of them that are confused, hurt, and disappointed.

Chances are your loved one’s already beating themselves up and you certainly don’t want to beat them down even further with negativity. Instead of using harsh words to ‘wake’ them up, communicate with them through positivity and kind-hearted words. When you begin with love, you set the stage for positive communication which can help build trust and connection between you and your loved one.

Express Forgiveness

Forgiveness doesn’t mean sweeping negative emotions under the rug and moving forward without discussion. Forgiveness means letting go of the resentment and anger that’s built up inside you. Your loved one likely made some serious mistakes and you’re having a difficult time moving on from them. But understand that it wasn’t their full intention to hurt you or break your trust. Addiction can alter a person’s decision-making skills and cause them to perform actions without thinking about the consequences.

When you express forgiveness, you’re opening the door for rebuilding that lost trust. It’s hard to support a loved one throughout their rehabilitation when you’re carrying negative emotions. You deserve the peace of mind and your loved one deserves forgiveness so that both parties can move forward together.

Build their confidence

If you are ready to mend a broken relationship with your loved one, the first thing you should do is to help build up their confidence. Tell them how much you value them and how important they are in your life. Your loved one is experiencing waves of emotions when undergoing rehab and the last thing you want is to add to those conflictions even further.

You can help your loved one overcome those emotions by focusing on their positive qualities and traits. Let them know that you see beyond their addiction and you value their commitment towards rehabilitation. Phrases like “I’m proud of you for doing this” or “I’m happy to see you sober” can instil a sense of confidence in them and position you as a positive force at this stage of their life.

Show your support

Having a strong support system is key to successful rehabilitation. During the early stages of rehab, your loved one may feel lonely and afraid. You can assure them by showing your support throughout the entire process. Remind your loved one that you’re always there for them and that they can reach out to you anytime.

It’s also crucial that you speak to their treatment counsellors so you can learn more about their rehab journey. Once your loved one has felt your support, they will become more connected with you and they’ll start to trust you even more as they progress with their rehab.

Encourage family counselling

Family influences play a huge role in a person’s chances of successful rehabilitation. This is why having a concrete relationship with family members is crucial for putting your loved one in the best position to succeed. When undergoing rehab, your loved ones receive most of the attention and resources from medical personnel, therapists, and addiction specialists.

Sometimes they can feel overwhelmed by the attention from these people and they may feel a bit uncomfortable opening up about their feelings. With family counselling, you encourage your loved one to open up and communicate better with family members. This can help resolve issues and help with self-reflection as your loved one moves forward with their rehab.

Communicating with your loved one is an important part of their journey to recovery. By following these steps, you can establish a stronger connection with your loved one and help set them up for future success.

It also helps to choose the right rehab facility where your loved one is surrounded by esteemed medical professionals and staff who can make them feel safe and comfortable whilst undergoing rehabilitation. If you’re looking for the best drug rehab in Bali, contact Calm Rehab today and we’ll be happy to hear from you.

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