Mental health treatment for addiction or any kind of mental health issue can be a very formative experience. During their time in treatment, people will engage in various forms of therapy and activities to promote healthy lifestyles. Positive coping mechanisms are taught and trauma is worked through.

While their experience in treatment will likely be positive, the transition to returning home can be difficult. However, with the right support system, returning home can be a positive and smooth experience.

If you find yourself in a position to offer support for someone returning home from treatment, here’s what you need to know.

Returning Home After Rehab

Coming home after treatment can be scary. The transition back into a daily routine is important for the recovery process, and it’s when people need support from friends and family.

Regardless of the reason for treatment, home is the context in which the issues took place. For those with trauma, their hometown can act as a constant reminder of what they went through. For people who suffer from addiction, their home may be the place their addiction was fed.

Returning to old habits is also a hurdle when returning home from treatment. While in treatment, people are taught new coping mechanisms and habits to employ. When returning home it’s important to build new habits.

What You Can Do to Support Someone After Treatment

When a friend or family member attends treatment, you’re capable of supporting their continued success when they return home.

As a support person it can be hard to understand where your role lies and what the best approach is. Here are some of the ways you can support someone after they’ve returned from treatment.

Encourage New Interests

Once again, returning home to where mental health issues were at their worst is challenging. You can support your loved one by encouraging new interests.

Hobbies and frequent activity can support recovery by building healthy habits and creating healthy distractions from triggers or distressing thoughts.

Some new interests you can encourage are:

• Hiking
• Painting
• Outdoor adventures
• Board games
• Thrifting

These interests don’t have to be hobbies you engage in all of the time. Simply enjoying something new together is a great way to support someone.

When you encourage new interests and hobbies, that helps create healthy habits, and it shows your loved one that you care.

Learn About Recovery

As a support person, you should be working on improving your understanding of recovery. Just by reading this resource, you’re already doing just that.

Learn all that you can about the recovery process from reputable sources. Some important things to know:

• Treatment typically isn’t a one-time thing
• Relapses in sobriety and mental health issues are normal
• The recovery process continues after leaving treatment

If you’re looking for more information about the treatment process and how recovery works, we have a robust archive of resource guides and articles available for anyone.

Read even more resources about mental health and addiction treatment at Sequoia: Mental Health Treatment Program, What We Treat  

Support Continued Treatment

Treatment isn’t a one-time ordeal that will fix every mental health problem that someone is experiencing. Treatment extends beyond the confines of a treatment facility. It takes time, and for some, it takes a lifetime.

Relapse is common. For those struggling with addiction, it can take up to five or six treatment attempts before they successfully quit. Encourage your loved one that relapsing isn’t the end. It’s an opportunity to learn more.

Related Article: Why Do People Relapse When Things Are Good?

Promote Self-Care and Healthy Choices

Remind your loved one that self-care is important and not selfish. Promote healthy choices like:

• Prioritizing sleep
• Pursuing healthy relationships
• Cutting out enablers and toxic people
• Exercise
• Eating healthy foods
• Taking a long bath

Practicing self-care and healthy choices will improve your loved one’s chances of living a healthy and balanced life.

Take Care of Yourself

To be a helpful support person, you need to take care of yourself. Closely supporting someone after treatment can be draining. If you need time to recharge, don’t be afraid to give yourself some space.

Some situations make it difficult to get away and recharge. Consider asking family members or friends if they could support them while you take some time for you.

Your loved one’s recovery is not your responsibility. You should support their efforts, but the success of their recovery should not be placed on your shoulders.

Show Optimism 

There will be many ups and downs during the treatment process. There may be relapses and times of discouragement, but it’s important to stay optimistic.

Optimism plays a vital role in mental health treatment. It’s important to have a sense of hope for the future and a belief that change can happen.

Be Inclusive

You might be tempted to exclude your loved one from gatherings to help “give them space”. However, isolation is unhelpful for someone in recovery.

Including your loved one in social events, family gatherings, and fun outings will help improve their sense of community and increase their sense of belonging.

Let Go of The Past

Treatment and recovery is all about moving forward. Dwelling on past mistakes or experiences will only drag people backward.

If reconciliation does need to happen, work through that, and don’t go back. Forgiveness is often difficult to give, and it requires a consistent effort. However, if you let go of past hurts your loved one will be more likely to recover well.

Related Article: Repairing Relationships After Addiction

Sit and Listen

You may not have the opportunity to live life in close proximity to your loved one who just finished treatment. That’s totally fine, and you can still support them in their recovery efforts.

Being present with them and simply listening to them is an important way to offer support and encourage their treatment efforts.

Here are some tips for being a good listener:

• Stay focused on them: Minimize distractions like phones and computers. Maintain eye contact and stay focused on what they’re saying.
• Avoid interruptions: It might feel like a good time to interject your thoughts, but make sure they’re able to share everything they want before you speak.
• Ask open ended questions: Sometimes sharing is hard. Open-ended questions encourage people to share more details they may be hesitant to share.
• Embrace the silence: Most people feel uncomfortable with silence. For many, it’s considered awkward or a sign that a conversation is not going well. This isn’t the truth. Silence gives space in a conversation for thought. Embrace it, you’ll be a better listener for it.

Sometimes it’s just important to sit and listen. Grab some coffee, go for a walk, or get some food, and listen.

Find Resources at Sequoia Behavioral Health

Sequoia Behavioral Health is a holistic treatment program that aims to treat the root of mental health issues while also treating any symptoms.

If you’re a support person for someone, we have a library full of resources designed to help you.

Resources for Families

For questions about our treatment program or what you can do to help your loved one, contact us today. We’ll be here to guide you and help your loved one on their treatment journey.