Written By:Amber Hollingsworth,LPC
Okay, let’s just say you weren’t trying to learn how to manage your loved one; you just want to educate yourself about recovery.
What Constitutes Good Recovery
There are many things that are good for recovery. Unfortunately, most people get very narrow minded about ways to stay sober and recover. We all know that going to meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps are effective strategies. I agree, these things are work for many, but it’s not the path for everyone.
At times, family members think this is the only way and they might even try to ensure that their loved one does these things by creating home contracts (see my article on contracts). This is a problem for several reasons.
1. It may not be the right thing for your loved one.
2. You can force compliance, but you can’t force recovery!
3. Your loved one may not be ready for this yet (see don’t force 12 step programs)
Recovery management is sanity management, and there are many things that can help individuals with this.
Here are just a few examples:
Exercise
Meditation
Support meetings
Therapy
Volunteer work
Medication management
Going to church
Reading recovery materials
Working on their relationships
Engaging in fun sober activities/hobbies/interest
There are many things that constitute good recovery.
The Most Important Thing for You to Know
It’s okay to make sobriety an expectation in your home, but you can’t tell someone how to stay sober. You need to have boundaries for your own sanity. Think of it like work…. It’s okay for your boss to tell you what they expect, but we all get irritated if they try to tell us how to do it.