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How to Support Your Spouse After a Drug Relapse

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How to Support Your Spouse After a Drug Relapse

If your spouse has recently experienced a drug relapse, then you might be wondering what to do next. After your loved one entered rehab for the first time, you probably thought that this journey was going to be over. He might have even thought that your loved one was cured when he or she left the addiction treatment facility. On the other hand, drug relapse is incredibly common. According to information that has been published by the United States government, millions of individuals over the age of 12 years used illicit drugs at some point during the past month. If you want to make sure that you support your spouse following a drug relapse, reach out to the addiction treatment experts at Red Oak Recovery® today by calling 866.457.7590.

React With Empathy, Not Anger

When you looked at relapse prevention strategies, you might have thought that you could prevent a drug relapse from taking place. Therefore, if a relapse occurs, it is understandable for you to be angry. At the same time, it is essential for you not to show your anger to your spouse. Instead, it would help if you reacted with empathy.

Remember that your loved one is suffering from a disease. You have every right to be frustrated, disappointed, and angry. However, you want to make sure that you place your loved one in a position to be successful following a relapse. The only way you can do this is if you react with empathy. That way, you will be able to provide support to your loved one. He or she desperately needs it during this difficult time.

Help Your Spouse Find Support

Next, it is essential to help your spouse find support. Begin by locating the treatment options that he or she needs to be successful. For example, your spouse might need to go back to an inpatient treatment facility. Alternatively, your spouse might need to go to an emergency room if they are acutely intoxicated. Some of the signs that you need to call 911 include:

  • Your spouse is not conscious
  • They are not breathing
  • Your spouse is acutely disoriented and doesn’t know who, where, or when he or she is
  • They are vomiting and will not stop
  • Your spouse is suffering from seizures

There are numerous other reasons why you might need to get your spouse to the emergency room. If you have any concerns about your spouse’s current mental state or physical state, reach out to a trained medical professional for assistance.

Take Care of Yourself and Set Boundaries

Finally, if you want to support your spouse following a drug relapse, you need to take care of yourself. This means getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising on a regular basis. In order for you to take care of your spouse, you need to be able to take care of yourself.

In this manner, you may need to set some boundaries. If you are not able to set boundaries, you may unwittingly enable your spouse in the future. A critically important part of relapse prevention, you need to establish boundaries with your spouse. That way, you can avoid future drug relapse.

Contact Red Oak Recovery® for Assistance with a Drug Relapse

If your spouse has recently suffered a drug relapse, you might be wondering what to do next. That is where we can help you. At Red Oak Recovery®, we specialize in addiction treatment programs. With young adult rehab programs, we can place your spouse and the perfect position to recover. Contact us today at 866.457.7590 to make an appointment with a member of our team!