What To Say to Someone in Rehab: Encouraging Words of Support

For many people, making the choice to seek help for substance use disorder is a difficult one. Many avoid seeking help for substance use disorders altogether because they fear the social stigma. 

One of the most effective ways to support someone in rehab is to offer words of encouragement. People recover more effectively when they feel understood and loved during their journey to sobriety.

Wondering what to say to a loved one going to rehab? Read on to learn more about how your words can offer support on the path to sobriety. 

Table of Contents

• The Powerful Impact of Words of Encouragement for Someone in Rehab
• What To Say to a Loved One in Rehab? 
• How To Temper Your Words To Avoid Overwhelming the Listener 
• What Should I Not Say to Someone in Rehab?
• The 3 Most Important Encouraging Words for Someone in Rehab
• Clear Steps Recovery: Supporting Your Recovery Journey Every Step of the Way With Words That Encourage and Inspire

Words have a lot of power, especially when they come from a trusted loved one. 

If you want to support a friend or family member in rehab, words of encouragement go a long way. Here are four ways words of encouragement can bolster a loved one on their journey to sobriety:

1. Confirm sense of community and belonging 
2. Hold space for self-compassion 
3. Support confidence and hope 
4. Identify and highlight growth and resilience in sobriety 

If you are ready to learn more about how rehab can help your loved ones and family, check out Clear Steps Recovery in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 

Looking for the right encouraging words for someone in rehab? Here are a few ideas:

• Positive affirmations of strength and resilience
• Words to celebrate progress
• Reminders of love and support
• Encouragement for the future
• Inspirational quotes for people in recovery

Positive Affirmations of Strength and Resilience

One of the best things you can do for your loved one in rehab is to give them positive affirmations of strength, as well as highlight their resilience. 

Detox and rehab are emotionally and physically taxing. People often feel ill and emotionally drained. Guilt, anxiety, and powerlessness are also common early on. Here are supportive things you can say:

• “Every challenge you face and overcome in recovery is proof of your resilience.”
• “It is not about how often you fall, but how often you get back up and keep trying.”
• “Every day in treatment is a testament to your courage and commitment to yourself.” 

Words To Celebrate Progress

When offering encouraging words to someone in rehab, it is important to highlight progress. 

Many people in recovery feel overwhelmed as sobriety brings use-based behaviors to light. They may feel discouraged by the work required to maintain sobriety. Encouraging words to celebrate progress for someone in rehab include:

• “I can see how much work you are putting in, and I know you are doing your best.”
• “You’re proving to yourself every day that change is possible.” 
• “Look at where you are now from where you started – your progress should be celebrated.” 

Reminders of Love and Support

If you cannot be with them physically in rehab, show your love and support through words. Tell them you are proud of them, that you see their struggles and know that they are trying to take steps towards a better, healthier, sober life. Here are some examples of how you can remind your loved one of your support:

• “You are not alone — I love you, and I’m here for you.”
• “I believe you can do this, and I support you 100%.” 
• “Your healing matters to me, and I am proud of the steps you are taking.” 

Encouragement for the Future

People in the early stages of recovery can feel stuck in the past. A way to encourage someone in rehab is to talk about the bright future ahead of them. 

It doesn’t have to be anything concrete. Just offer general reminders that there is a happy, sober life waiting for them: 

• “The work you are doing now is building you a better tomorrow.”
• “Your story is still being written, and you have a chance for a new beginning.”
• “Sobriety is going to open so many doors for you, and I am excited to see what comes next.” 

Inspirational Quotes for People in Recovery

Here are some inspirational quotes for your loved one in rehab: 

• “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
• “Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.” — Carrie Fisher 
• “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln 
• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill 

It is wonderful that you are looking for encouraging words for someone in rehab. However, sometimes we get so excited to support that we end up overwhelming the listener and adding to their stress. Here are some ways you can avoid that: 

• Don’t be dismissive: You may be tempted to tell someone to think positively, or to look on the bright side, etc. While staying positive is important, it is also important to acknowledge the difficult and unpleasant aspects of their journey. 
• Listen: Going through rehab is hard. Most of the time, your loved one is just going to want a sympathetic ear. It is important to talk less and listen more. 
• Avoid clichés: If they wanted platitudes, they could read a greeting card. Don’t revert to one-size-fits-all responses; be present with your loved one and give them intentional advice. 

People on the road to sobriety are fragile, and some things are not appropriate or helpful to discuss. Here are a few things you should avoid when talking to someone in rehab:

• Anger and recrimination: Studies show that living with someone who suffers from a substance use disorder is difficult. Erratic, selfish behavior caused by prioritizing drugs and alcohol can leave a lot of hurt feelings in its wake. There may be a time in the future when discussing these feelings is appropriate, but it isn’t during rehab. When speaking to a loved one in rehab, try to stay positive and focus on healing. 
• Questioning the need for rehab: If your loved one is in rehab, it's for a good reason. Avoid questioning if they “really need” rehab, and avoid asking how they “got put” in rehab. These questions are demeaning, invasive, and not conducive to healing. 
• Suggesting that rehab is a vacation: Rehab is not a vacation. It is a highly structured, sometimes medically supervised environment for people who are taking ownership of their health. By suggesting that rehab is a “break” from life, you are undermining the difficult work required to get sober. 

One of the worst things you can say to someone in rehab is nothing at all. People need love and support on their way to sobriety to bolster their resolve and remind them of why sobriety is important. If someone goes to rehab and everyone stops talking to them, it adds to the stigma of going to rehab and makes them feel abandoned and forgotten.

What is the most important thing to say to someone in rehab? Three simple words … 

“I love you.”

It is incredibly important to remind someone in rehab that you love them, you support them, and you are here for them during their recovery journey. If you really want to help, offer your unconditional love when they need it the most. From detox to rehab and sober living, they are going to need your love every step of the way. 

Clear Steps Recovery is Massachusetts’ premier rehab and recovery center. We specialize in holistic treatment for substance use disorder, and design our programs to tackle the emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual damage caused by substance use disorder. 

We also have after-care and sober living programs, because we know that the journey of sobriety does not end when our patients leave. 

If you or a loved one is ready to start your journey to sobriety, give Clear Steps Recovery a call. From medically-assisted detox to cognitive behavioral therapy and beyond, we have the science-backed tools needed to create a new beginning of sobriety. 

 The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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