How do I support someone I love when they return from rehab?

When someone comes back from rehab, he or she would love an enthusiastic smile, a big hug, and CONGRATULATIONS on completing rehab successfully! Offer an invitation to see a movie or just to come over and watch TV. Support their new healthy habits (without hovering anxiously, of course). For example, if they're not using alcohol, serve delicious non-alcohol beverages without making a fuss over it. Offer lots of healthy food choices. Offer to go with them to the gym, or bike rides if they like cycling, etc. Attend Alanon For Family Members to learn how to support their recovery. Offer to take a phone call in the middle of the night when things get tough. Smile. Relax. Offer help with transportation if they lost their driver's license. Admire and compliment sincerely for small achievements. And more laughs and hugs! Accept changes in patterns and new ways of approaching things. And feel free to ASK them how to support them. And keep in mind, their recovery isn't the only topic of conversation! Talk about other things, too! Try to forgive the rotten things they did before. But have reasonable boundaries. Don't do things for them that they should do for themselves. Your job isn't to save them. Focus on your own self-improvement and let them be in charge of theirs. :-)

How to best support someone depends on the person. In general, though, the best way to provide support is to let them know you're proud of them and the work they're doing, and to encourage them to continue taking care of themselves. If you want, offer to drive them to recovery group meetings, or to watch a movie with them on a night when they would have usually gone out to party. Make sure to take care of yourself, and remember that their sobriety is up to them; all you can do is love them. Consider joining a group like Al-Anon, for friends and family of alcoholics and other addicts.