Are Loved Ones Part of the Recovery Process?
Addiction can affect a person’s relationships. Because of this, many people can often be isolated from their loved ones. Even if they are not, a person may have hurt their loved ones over the course of their addiction.
A person’s loved ones are part of the recovery process. In the 12-step program, 2 steps emphasize making amends with people. The people a person in recovery often has to make amends to are their loved ones, as they are the ones who are most likely to be affected by a person’s substance use.
But beyond amends that have to be made, a person’s loved ones can be an integral part of the recovery process. They can offer encouragement and support. In some cases, they can offer practical assistance by helping a person with day-to-day life as a sober person.
Loved ones can also help a person keep themselves accountable when they make choices that may not be conducive to their treatment goals.
It’s also often the case that a person’s loved ones are the catalyst for recovery. Many people do not seek treatment until after their loved ones gather and stage an intervention to compel them to seek drug or alcohol rehab. But these loved ones aren’t just there at the beginning, they can be there every step of the way.