The most important step to take is prioritizing your well-being. Take the time to rebuild your sense of safety and control. That may look like attending our family orientation group meetings while your spouse is in residency or exploring programs that our North Charleston outpatient facility provides.
You can also consider doing the following to help support your partner’s sobriety or substance reduction efforts:
Removing all substances from shared living spaces and/or quitting substances as well—at least in the presence of your spouse
Educating yourself about SUD and how it affects your daily life
Seeking therapy and support in your community to lean on as you undergo changes and learn new habits
Destigmatizing addiction, thinking of it as a mental health disorder rather than the result of a personal failure or mistake
Working with your partner to establish new recovery boundaries
Practicing relapse prevention techniques that can help your spouse manage stress as they return to daily life
As you continue to create boundaries, and if you choose to support your spouse through recovery, know that you cannot change your partner and you are not responsible for doing so. You can communicate your concerns and offer to help your partner get into treatment, but their recovery will depend on their own willingness to commit to the work. Waypoint can help both you and your loved one in this process. Contact us to learn more.