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How To Help Others In Their Recovery Journey

People support a woman in her recovery journey during a group therapy session.

Addiction is a debilitating disease that can rob you of your health, quality of life, and relationships. As a loved one of someone battling addiction, it can be extremely difficult watching your close friend or family member wrestle with addiction. Not only can it be hard to know how exactly you can help, but it can also be complicated knowing how to set healthy boundaries. In this article, you’ll learn more about how to help others in their recovery journey.

At Pathways Recovery, we are a drug rehab that provides comprehensive care to help you overcome addiction and achieve life-long sobriety. No two recovery journeys are ever the same. We offer a wide range of personalized addiction treatment options so you can receive the tailored support you need to regain control of your health and quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you break free of addiction for good. 

6 Ways to Help Others in Their Recovery Journey

Research found that over 48 million people struggled with a substance use disorder in 2022. These staggering findings showcase just how prevalent addiction is and how likely it is that you may know someone in your own life that is struggling with addiction. If you suspect someone in your life may be struggling with addiction, below are several ways to help others in their recovery journey.

1. Actively Listen and Support Them

First, it’s important to establish a safe, judgment-free space for your loved one to discuss openly and honestly their addiction struggles. When your loved one does open up about their addiction, ensure you are actively listening to them without judgment. This will help them feel more supported and can go a long way in your loved one talking openly and honestly about their addiction in the future. 

2. Learn More About Addiction

Next, it’s important to be educated about addiction. Many people don’t understand that addiction is a brain disease that many people struggle with. Learning more about drug addiction will help you be better equipped to support your loved one. 

3. Help Them Find Professional Support

Another way to help others in their recovery journey is by helping them find professional support to safely overcome their addiction. Although you are not responsible for finding care for them, you can consider helping them research drug rehabs in your area that best meet their recovery needs. 

4. Implement Healthy Boundaries

While it’s great to be supportive of others’ recovery journeys, it’s also important to maintain healthy boundaries. Otherwise, you risk not only hurting your relationships but also hurting your own health and quality of life. Therefore, be sure to set, communicate, and keep boundaries with your loved ones so you can be supportive of them without feeling like you are getting taken advantage of.

5. Understand Addiction Is a Life-Long Journey

It’s also critical to understand addiction is a life-long journey. Therefore, being a supportive friend or family member from the beginning and throughout their recovery journey can not only keep them accountable but also help motivate them to maintain their sobriety. 

6. Celebrate Your Loved One’s Milestones

Finally, you can help others in their recovery journey by celebrating their recovery milestones with them. Whether your loved one achieves one month of sobriety or 10 years, it’s essential you recognize and celebrate others’ recovery milestones so they feel supported every step of the way along their recovery journey. 

Help Is Available 

Understanding how to help others in their recovery journey can be tricky. While you want to be supportive of your loved one, you also don’t want to enable their behavior. Plus, it can be difficult to set and keep healthy boundaries. The above tips are a great way to keep your loved one accountable and motivated so they feel supported in their recovery journey, without harming your own personal health and well-being.

At Pathways Recovery, we are here to help you every step of the way along your road to recovery. Our gender-specific addiction treatment programs are tailored to provide effective support for each individual who walks through our doors. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!