Recovery begins with being honest with yourself and those around you. After all, how can we expect our loved ones to support us and help us maintain a substance-free life if they don’t know we struggle with substances in the first place?
Transparency and open communication can set the foundation for long-lasting change, so acknowledging your challenges, heading to residential treatment in Port Matilda, and telling your loved ones what’s happening are all part of the process. But why is an informed community so important for long-term recovery?
Well, one study provides valuable findings on your community’s powerful influence in recovery:
- To achieve and maintain sobriety, individuals often need to cultivate healthy social networks and practice self-agency.
- Negative relationships could damage or delay progress in recovery.
- Supportive relationships, especially those involving family, friends, or partners who do not use substances, can often be crucial to avoid relapse and remain stable.
- Including your trusted social connections in your personalized treatment plan could enhance recovery outcomes.
At St. Joseph’s, we help you build and, if necessary, rebuild positive connections. Our approach involves integrating loved ones into the recovery process through the family program, helping to ensure communities thrive while working toward a substance-free lifestyle.
In this article, we’ll give conversation prompts for communicating tough truths and inviting others to support you along the way. Contact us after reading for more information.
How to Tell Friends You’re Going to Treatment in Pennsylvania
Friends might fall into different categories when it comes to your recovery:
- Friends who also need treatment. Sometimes, being honest about your own journey can inspire someone else to seek help. You could say, “I’m working on myself, and I’d love to support you if you’re considering doing the same.”
- Supportive friends. Lean on those who offer encouragement. Share your progress and let them know how much their support means.
- Unsupportive friends. Set boundaries when necessary. It’s okay to step back from relationships that don’t align with your recovery goals.
Starting a conversation about your recovery can feel overwhelming and awkward, but these prompts might help you find the words:
- “I’ve been going through some substance-related challenges, and I’m working on making healthier choices. I want to share that I’m in recovery.”
- “I value our friendship, and I want to be honest about where I am right now. I have a problem with substances, and I’m focused on getting better and making positive changes.”
How to Tell Family Members You’re Seeking Help
- Spouses and partners. Your intimate relationships could play a make-or-break role in long-term recovery, so open communication with romantic partners can help them understand your commitment to change and how they can help. Updating them may also help motivate you to complete treatment if they extend encouragement.
- Parents or other caretakers. If it means a lot to you that your parents and siblings understand what’s happening and your commitment to accountability, informing them you’ll be away at treatment could ease a lot of anxiety. A simple approach might be: “I’m committed to changing with St. Joseph Institute, and I hope you’ll join me as I move forward.”
- Children. Kids aren’t clueless, but they may not need lengthy explanations either. Keeping the focus on reassurance and consistency could help you both stay on track during the conversation. Say something like: “I’m working on getting better to be healthier and happier. You’ll still see me, and we’ll keep talking and spending time together.” If possible, try to have information on hand about how often and through what means your children can stay in touch or visit with you while you’re away.
How to Tell Employers You’ll Be in Treatment
You may not need to take time off from work to get treated, which may make our intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Wexford the right fit for you. Also, telling your employer you’re entering treatment directly may not always be necessary. You may be able to provide a doctor’s note or an insurance approval form for treatment instead.
Still, there are some legal points to keep in mind regarding recovery treatment and your job:
- Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you can take leave for substance use treatment if a healthcare provider recommends it.
- The FMLA protects your job while you receive care, as long as your absence is for treatment, not using or recovering from substance use.
- Employers may enforce existing policies that could negatively affect you, like a zero-substance policy, even if you’re on or approved for FMLA leave. If the preexisting policy allows for your position to be terminated, there may not be much you can do.
If you can’t avoid speaking to your employer, telling them the truth may be the simplest option. You might say something like: “I’m taking steps to address a health issue and will need time for treatment. I’ll work to keep communication open during this time.”
Build a Recovery Community in Pennsylvania
No matter who you need to inform, St. Joseph Recovery Center can help you plan a constructive conversation and provide more tips for telling loved ones.
