It starts with understanding that relapse isn’t about weakness. It’s about pain. People who relapse aren’t giving up. They’re overwhelmed. The best thing you can do is stay open and connected. Gently encourage them to talk about what happened, without jumping to fix it. Offer to help them contact a treatment provider, go to a meeting, or revisit their relapse prevention plan. At The Hader Clinic, we also support families through education, counselling, and honest conversations about boundaries, enabling, and recovery. You don’t have to do this alone, either.
The most important thing is to stay connected. After a relapse, people often feel ashamed, scared, and alone. Your role isn’t to fix them. It’s to remind them they’re still worth loving, and that help is still possible. Listen without interrupting. Encourage them to reach out to a treatment provider. Set boundaries if you need to, but don’t shut them out. At The Hader Clinic, we also offer family counselling and support so you can look after your own wellbeing while staying involved in recovery.