4. Offer support, but don't babysit them.
With that in mind, not everyone responds to support the same way. It's important that you respect your loved one's boundaries and don't fall into the babysitting trope. Recovery is a challenging process but there is no reason to baby someone struggling with addiction. You may want to give all the love in the world, and that's great, but they still need to feel that they have autonomy beyond their recovery.
5. Support a cause that helps addiction recovery.
Depending on how your loved one responds to help, direct support may not be the best strategy. Some people want to go through things alone, and that's their right. Maybe one day they'll be open to that direct support, but until then you must respect their boundaries.
During this time, it may feel good to make an effort to support others struggling with substance use by donating time or funds to addiction recovery organizations. (Like us!) Also, even if they don't say anything, your loved one might feel better knowing that you're supporting them in the best way possible right now.
6. Reduce excess stress.
Even without specifically touching on substance use, you can support your recovering loved one by taking something else off their plate. While you can't blame yourself for other people's emotions, you can try to make their lives a little easier. Some simple ways to do this are to clean around their house, bring them food, or knock a few items off their to-do list.
7. Remind them that they are loved – always.
We don't always tell our friends and family that we love them, and sometimes it can feel a little funny to find out when it slips into a casual conversation. Even if it's not something you're used to, it can be helpful to verbalize your feelings when someone is going through such a difficult process. Addiction can feel so lonely, but you can be the person who reminds someone that they are not alone. Take that chance.