It can be hard to know what to do when a friend is struggling with alcohol recovery. Watching someone you care about going through the process of quitting drinking can be overwhelming and intimidating. You want to help but don’t know how. This blog post will provide insight into how best to support your friend in their alcohol recovery journey.
Listen
One of the most important ways to help your friend in alcohol recovery is to listen. It’s important for them to feel heard and supported, so ensure you provide an open and nonjudgmental space for your friend to express themselves without fear of being judged or criticized. Let them talk about their experience with alcohol recovery and share how they’re feeling. If there are moments when your friend isn’t ready to talk, try to be understanding and don’t push them too hard.
You can also join EverBlume, an online platform connecting friends and family members of those with substance use disorders, where you can find support from others going through similar experiences. The platform offers helpful resources, tips, and support groups to help you understand what your friend is going through and how to best support them. With EverBlume, you can access resources and support around the clock, allowing you to lend your friend a supportive ear whenever they need it.
Educate Yourself
Alcohol recovery can be difficult for the person affected and those around them. To best support your friend, it’s important to educate yourself on the realities of alcohol addiction and how you can help. Join Ever Blume, an online resource dedicated to helping friends and family understand and support those in recovery. This organization offers videos, articles, support groups, and connections to local resources like Alcoholics Anonymous. Additionally, reading books such as The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison or Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp can be invaluable in understanding the inner experience of someone in recovery. Understanding the underlying causes of addiction and how it can affect behavior can help you offer more meaningful and effective support to your friend.
Avoid Enabling
When a friend is in alcohol recovery, it’s important to recognize that you can play an essential role in their journey. You should be mindful, however, not to enable them by providing or condoning their drinking behavior.
Enabling can take many forms and make it difficult for your friend to stay on the path of sobriety. Some common examples of enabling include buying alcohol for someone trying to abstain, providing money or shelter to someone using alcohol, and ignoring bad behavior caused by drinking.
By avoiding enabling behaviors, you can support your friend’s alcohol recovery. Instead of turning a blind eye, talk to them about their drinking habits and encourage them to get better. Let them know that you are there for them and are willing to join them every step of the way.
At the same time, remember to set boundaries for yourself. This may mean refusing to participate in activities that involve alcohol or spending less time with people who are drinking. By making these changes in your life, you can provide your friend with a supportive environment for their alcohol recovery.
Finally, reach out for help if you need it. Ever Blume offers free online therapy and peer support services for anyone supporting a loved one with alcohol recovery. By connecting with other people going through similar situations, you can get guidance and resources to help your friend stay sober.
Offer Distractions
Distractions can be a great way to help a friend in alcohol recovery. The idea is to replace the urge to drink with activities or hobbies that can be enjoyable and rewarding and help build a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Offer to join your friend in doing things like taking walks, going to the movies, attending events, exploring new hobbies or interests, or even just having a cup of coffee together.
At Ever Blume, we understand how hard it can be for someone in alcohol recovery to find fun and engaging activities to keep them from slipping back into bad habits. That’s why we offer a variety of distractions that can help support recovery, such as our Virtual Experiences program. Our Virtual Experiences provide members with access to fun, interactive activities such as cooking classes, art classes, yoga classes, and more – all from the comfort of their own homes. By joining Ever Blume, your friend will have a place to go and find a meaningful distraction that can help their journey to recovery.
Set Boundaries
One of the most important things you can do to support your friend in alcohol recovery is to set boundaries. Setting boundaries allows you to create a safe environment for yourself and your friend. It’s important to clarify that it’s unacceptable for your friend to drink or use drugs around you. If your friend does break these boundaries, it’s essential to remain firm and consistent in addressing the situation.
It may also be necessary to set boundaries in other areas as well. For example, you may need to avoid going to bars or other places where alcohol is served. This will provide an additional level of safety and reassurance that your friend won’t be tempted to relapse.
While setting boundaries can be difficult, it’s one of the best ways to show your friend that you care about their alcohol recovery journey. This doesn’t mean that you have to cut off contact with them entirely; it just means that you are taking extra steps to ensure their safety and well-being.
Seek Professional Help
Sometimes supporting a friend in alcohol recovery is more than we can handle on our own. It’s important to know when to seek professional help and advice. Joining Ever Blume, an online recovery community, is one way to access additional support and resources. This platform provides members access to tools and resources to help them navigate their recovery process.
Professional treatment programs are also a great resource for alcohol recovery. Treatment centers typically offer individual counseling, group therapy sessions, medical intervention, and other evidence-based treatment strategies. Treatment professionals can provide additional education about the physical and psychological effects of alcohol abuse and addiction.
In addition to professional services, friends and family members can benefit from attending support groups such as Al-Anon or AA. These programs provide a safe space for individuals to discuss their struggles and share advice and experiences with others who understand what they’re going through.
Supporting a friend in alcohol recovery is a long and challenging journey, but it can be made easier with the right resources and support. By seeking professional help and joining Ever Blume, you can better equip yourself to provide the best possible support for your loved one during their recovery.
Take Care of Yourself
When you have a friend who is in alcohol recovery, it can be emotionally draining. It is important to remember to take care of yourself. Caring for someone else can be taxing, so it’s important to ensure you take care of your mental and physical health first. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, exercise, and proper nutrition.
Joining Ever Blume is a great way to find support and learn strategies to help you care for yourself while supporting your friend. Find a group or an online forum that can offer support and guidance as you navigate the difficult process of helping your friend. It is also important to talk about your feelings and experiences with someone who is not directly connected to the situation. This can be a therapist or other professional, a close friend, or a family member. You need someone who can provide perspective and support you during this time.
Final Words
Alcohol recovery is a difficult journey, but it does not need to be taken alone. If you have a friend in alcohol recovery, the best thing you can do is offer your support and understanding. Listen to them without judgment, educate yourself about addiction and recovery, avoid enabling behavior, offer distractions, set boundaries, and seek professional help when necessary. It is also important to remember to take care of yourself during this process.