Support

Have you ever thought about how to maintain a balance between helping and not overstepping boundaries? I know I have. I often have family members ask me, “What can I do to help him/her through this?” While offering support is crucial, it's essential to strike a balance and not overwhelm the person. As caregivers/family/friends, we need to find the right balance of being there for our loved ones while also respecting their space and autonomy during a difficult time.

Express your care and support

They do want to know that you love them, it makes a difference.

Be involved in therapy when needed

Ultimately this is their therapy and it’s their decision, but when they ask, please come.

Don’t try to fix, police, or take charge of their problems

Ultimately, they have to be the one to take responsibility for their issues. However, an empathetic nonjudgmental ear is welcome.

Spend quality time together as a family or as a couple everyday

I know we live in a busy world, but sharing quality, positive time together, helps to normalize our lives and nourish us physically and emotionally. It’s great to not ALWAYS concentrate on what’s going wrong, but to focus on what is going right!

Encourage them to utilize their healthy coping skills

The key word here is encourage. Remember, we don’t want to fix, police, or take charge of them and their recovery. Offer to do the skills and healthy activities with them (going for a walk, practice deep breathing/meditation, etc.).

Focus on coping with your own challenges in a healthy and effective way

We can’t pour from an empty cup. So take care of yourself too!

As we work on becoming better versions of ourselves, seeking guidance from a counselor in Flower Mound, TX or Southlake, TX can be incredibly helpful. It takes time to make progress and overcome personal obstacles, but ultimately, showing ourselves love and seeking support from a nonjudgmental source often goes so much further than we think!