5 Ways to Relax During a Stressful Time

Everyone always talks about how to help someone with an alcohol addiction or cocaine addiction or other drugs. But sometimes, in all the flurry of addiction treatment programs and interventions and other things, the family members and loved ones of the addict can be forgotten. If you have a loved one that is struggling with an oxycodone addiction or some other kind of addiction, then you probably know what this article is talking about. It’s the caretaker stress. There is so much effort and focus put into getting the addict help that the people that are helping can get forgotten. It’s easy to even forget about yourself in the whole process. However, it’s important to make sure that your life doesn’t become consumed with the addict’s problems. Of course you love them and you want to see them get better but they won’t get better if you aren’t taking care of yourself first. Here are a few ideas of ways that you can take care of yourself while figuring out which addiction treatment programs are good and the rest of it.

Treat Yourself
Go get a massage or a pedicure or something that has nothing to do with the addiction problems in the family. Sometimes even just going to work can be a treat with you are trying to get a loved one to get addiction treatment. but you really should take some time and treat yourself with something that you haven’t done in awhile. Once you are done, you’ll feel refreshed and better about yourself.

Go Out With Friends
Often times, when family members are dealing with a drug crisis in the family, it can consume all of their strength and time. Friends get put on the back burner. Don’t let this be the case for you. Intentionally make time for your friends and go out with them and have a good time. This could be a night out, it could be lunch or shopping. Whatever the case, it’s good to get away from the family and the situation to remind yourself of your job over and above the addiction problems that your family is going through.

Take 24 Hours Off
If you feel like you are getting burnt out, you need to take 24 hours off. No more no less. No more because your family does need you. No less because that’s the minimum amount of time you need to renew your spirits. Take an Epsom salt bath, cook some healthy food for yourself and fall asleep in front of the television. Sometimes you just need those alone nights when you are going through a stressful situation like that.

Rotate With Family Members
You can not be expected or except yourself to be able to be around 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your loved one needs constant company and observation it might be a good idea to set up a schedule with the family and rotate everyone through. This is so not one person is there constantly and ends up getting burnt out.

Join a Support Group
Joining a group is a good idea because there are going to be people there that are going through the same things that you are. It helps to know that you are not alone. You can also swap stories and see what seems to work best when trying to help an addicted loved one. It’s also just a great opportunity to meet new people and connections. Being friends with people who also have addicted family members is a good idea because they will understand if you have to cancel plans suddenly in an emergency. That also goes for you being understanding if they have an emergency to.

All of these things will help you to refresh your mind and feel rejuvenated enough to be able to give yourself to the issue at hand again. If you get burnt out, you aren’t going to be able to choose an effective addiction treatment or really reach out to your loved one at all. They need to feel your love and support, not your stress and frustration. If you feel yourself getting more easily frustrated, it might be time to take a break.