Here is a recap of the 9 Tips on how to handle a friend or loved one in an active relapse, while also protecting your own boundaries. Practicing these suggestions can help you be the best version of your sober self, as discussed in the SOBER POP Tips Room on the Clubhouse App on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021.
SOBER POP Tips: Helping Someone in Active Relapse and Also Protecting Your Personal Boundaries
1.) Assess their safety. Are they alone? What have they been using and for how long? Know the facts and gather what information you can. If they are in danger of hurting themselves or others, call 911.
2.) Be supportive. Hold off on lectures or shame and focus on what is happening right now. Any person not in their right mind or heavily under the influence is not going to understand or retain what you have to say. Save your breath and judgment for another time.
3.) Don’t navigate this alone. People under the influence are capable of doing anything and can be unpredictable. Working in pairs of two to help the person in need is always recommended.
4.) Practice empathy. If you are a patient person and they don’t appear to be in immediate danger, let them talk it out. It doesn’t take much to wear out a heavily intoxicated person. If talking to them over the phone, many will talk and cry themselves to sleep.
5.) Is the person open to checking into detox and/or treatment? If so, call around and find out the closest detox location or treatment facility with an open bed. Note, depending on what state you are located in, many treatment facilities ask for at least 24-hours of sobriety.
6.) Assess if there is a high chance of overdose. They should not use alone. This can be a major safety issue. Fentanyl overdoses can be fast and violent. If they are in danger of hurting themselves or others, do not hesitate to call 911. Let professionals step in to help.
7.) Avoid co-dependency and enabling. Sometimes your efforts to provide support in recovery could actually be enabling the addiction. Enabling occurs when you make excuses, cover for your loved one, or take the blame for their behaviors rather than them experiencing the negative repercussions of the use. With enough enabling, there is a chance for you to become dependent on your loved one. Here, your happiness is linked to theirs.
8.) Help them focus on the next steps and to stay out of the shame spiral. Maybe they need to get back into their program of choice or see a therapist. BetterHelp can help them get connected with someone in less than 48 hours.
9.) Helping a loved one going through a relapse can be draining. If this keeps occurring or at any point is compromising your sobriety, you have every right to part with love.
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MOD Squad: Alysse Bryson, Martha Duke, and Brandon Page
Check Out Previous SOBER POP Tips Topics:
- Service Work – Because Doing Good Feels Good
- Curated List of 10 Best Practices to be Your Best Sober Self!
- 10 Tips on Navigating Shopping Situations in Early Sobriety and 6 Tips on Dealing With Shopping Addiction
- Navigating Live Concerts and Festivals
- Finding a Therapist That’s Right For You – Part One
- Dating Sober
- Traveling Sober
- Attending Weddings, Birthdays, and Various Other Celebrations
SOBER POP the Playback Podcast: We love to collab with like-minded people in recovery. When you join the conversations on Wednesdays at the SOBER POP Club we record the conversations. WHY? Because the conversations always pop! But in all seriousness, we simply found that the conversations we were having on various sober pop culture topics were so informative and fun. Even if you aren’t available to attend one of our rooms in the club, you can still catch up on the conversation playback and find out what you missed.
Listen to Our 1st Sober Comedy Night HERE
Resources are available.
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
