It can hurt to see a friend suffering from alcohol addiction. Sadly, according to the National Institute of Drugs Abuse, at least 40-60% of addicts relapse even after addiction recovery. You can be tempted into abandoning them, but that can worsen the situation. The process will require you to be patient and easy with them. Several changes, adjustments, and resolutions must be adhered to for smooth adaption for you, and the Abbey Care Foundation gives you a complete guide on dealing with relapse.
Spending time with an alcohol addict can be tiring and energy-draining. So, below are some steps that will make the journey more manageable.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Contact a rehab mentor, friend, or doctor.
Being in rehab can be challenging, especially if you cannot see a familiar face around. So, it is important to visit your friends often to make them feel comfortable, loved, and supported. Then again, ensure to keep in contact with the doctor in charge to track their progress.
Rehab centers like Impact Recovery Center offer their support in and out of their facility. However, this is until you’re fully capable of handling addiction situations comfortably by yourself.
Step 2: Leave old friends behind
Being told to leave your old friends behind may sound harsh, but it’s necessary. Staying active with friends who are still alcohol abusers can put your friend in a difficult situation.
In addition, befriending people who do not fully understand the recovery journey and the decision to quit alcohol may be the reason why your friend may end up relapsing. So, if you take alcohol, it would be best to avoid drinking it in their presence.
Step 3: Find hobbies
It’s quite probable that your friend’s life only revolves around seeking or consuming alcohol, and they lack the opportunity to discover their full potential. But now, with your help, they can have a cleaner slate where they have the chance to learn more about themselves and engage in new activities. This way, their mind is distracted from alcohol.
Step 4: Exercise
According to CNN, numerous groups across the country help people stay sober by replacing old habits with new and healthy obsessions like staying active and physically fit. Most likely, your friend’s overall health is poor. Taking challenges by joining other groups can help them in wanting to keep fit.
Additionally, adding exercise to their daily routine increases their confidence, improves overall brain health, and boosts their energy levels.
Step 5: Get plenty of rest
Alcohol increases the adenosine chemical production in your brain, making you more sleepy; however, it wears out very fast. This will prompt irregular sleeping patterns, making them moody, depressed, and tired. They need to rest up to 8 hours during the night to allow their brain and other body parts to regenerate fully for better function when they are awake.
According to the research, lack of enough sleep has been linked to mental health issues like anxiety and depression in people with a history of substance abuse.
Step 6: Find support
Staying around people who can understand their struggles will not make your friend feel like an outcast. To avoid these negative thoughts and feelings, you should help them find people outside rehab who have adapted to the new environment; for guidance. Additionally, they can share their story, which can help them with the healing and recovery process.
In conclusion, Substance recovery is not a marathon, and everyone’s journey is different. It is necessary to know that the problems and challenges may seem similar, but each person faces different obstacles. Therefore, do not shy away from asking for help.
