Addiction recovery can be challenging to your family too. Of all people, however, they’re the ones who stood by you through it all–from the dark times of your active addiction and now as you traverse your new life sober. Here are some tips on how you can show how much you appreciate them.
Going through the addiction rehab process is not only hard on you–it’s also difficult for your family. They will be left alone while you’re in a safe, secure, drug-free environment learning all sorts of life skills and coping mechanisms. While you can focus on yourself without the distractions of the outside world, your family is out there, most likely dealing with all the problems you have left behind.
Aside from all this, they are also filled with worry and uncertainty as they put their trust in your ability to recover and commit to a life of sobriety. And once you get out of addiction rehab center, you owe it to yourself and to them to show your gratitude as your first exercise in recovery and healing.
By showing your appreciation and gratitude to your family, who has been with you through the hell of active addiction, the uncertainty of rehabilitation, and the renewed hope of recovery, you also heal yourself.
Here are tips on how you can thank your family for supporting your addiction recovery.
Tips for Thanking Family for Addiction Recovery
1. Say your sincere sorry. Sometimes, a sincere “Sorry” is really all that your family needs to hear. This can also help you exercise humility and empathy as you acknowledge the things that you did wrong to your family and what you can do to make it up to them.
2. Make amends. This is part of the 12 Steps. By making amends, you not only talk about being sorry, you are actually doing the work it entails. You are walking the talk and showing that you are really sorry.
3. Help out. While it’s important to prioritize self-care, it doesn’t mean you will shut yourself off from the needs of others. Be there to help them out even in the little things such as doing the chores or carrying groceries. These small gestures can go a long way to endearing you once more to your family.
4. Reconnect. While you were in active addiction, you may have caused conflict with some of your family members. You may now not be as close to them as before. Now that you’re in addiction recovery and out of rehab, you can take this time to reconcile and reconnect with them once more.
5. Write. You may not be good at expressing yourself vocally, so you can definitely consider writing them a letter to pour your heart out and tell them what you feel.
6. Accept them. While you have the support of your peers in rehab and have learned life skills inside, your family don’t have these. They may still be brewing with unfinished issues with you while you’re still in the rehab. Still, understand that they are also going through their own process and be mindful of this.
Reconnecting and continuing life with your family now that you’re in addiction recovery can be filled with challenges. Most of them may be new to you as now you’re not clouded by your addiction.
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