Silence as a Form of Recovery Support: Listen and Learn

Communication is a two-way street but it is not uncommon for an addict to get nothing from those around them but being talked down to, yelled at, or told what they are doing wrong. As a supportive loved one, family member, or friend, we must listen, we must pause and offer our loved one the respectful gift of silence. We must place on-hold our need to fill the void of sound and allow the addict to express their needs first. Taking time to listen gives our loved ones a chance to release what is within, setting aside the judgment and allowing for vulnerability.

If your loved one needs support, or you are personally struggling with active addiction, the Orange County detox and rehabilitation specialists at Fresh Start of California can help. Call our team today for the support you need.

How Silence Can Help in Recovery

There are many ways in which sound can impact our wellbeing. Constant talking, noise, or sound can negatively impact our mental and emotional health. Contrastingly, quiet environments improve health and wellbeing, reduce the use of mind-altering drugs, and can help an addict find the space to share.

Other ways that sound can be involved in recovery support include: 

• Noises can be triggering, negatively or positively. Sounds stick with you, such as guitar melodies, loud voices, screeching vehicles, or arguments. Silence and supportive listening help to reset the mind and create an opportunity for your loved one to create positive memories, associated with the sounds of their choice.
• Release auditory stressors that may feel like torture for a recovering addict. Keep in mind that you do not know all of what your loved one has experienced in his or her addiction. Listen to them for cues to what kinds of conversations are comfortable and less stressful.
• Silent presence may be exactly what your recovering loved one needs. Whether when we are sick or are working through difficult emotional or mental times, a loved one offering quiet presence is comforting. It may all our loved one needs to feel safe and to relax.
• Silence promotes sleep. Sleep that is interrupted by noises or that is not in silence may be restless, which is not as healing. Being available, but leaving space for silence, is a wonderful way to support your recovering loved one.

Silence in a Medical Setting: Your Support at Fresh Start of California

At Fresh Start of California, it is our job to offer support in all aspects of detox and recovery. We are here to act as your counselors, your nurses, and doctors, and equally importantly, to hold space in silence for you. Our detox and recovery professionals understand the importance of silence in the medical setting as it allows our patients to express what they are feeling, physically, mentally, or emotionally. We also can implement and demonstrate silence through silent meditation or holding space for others in silence during a group setting.

For detox and rehabilitation options in Orange County, contact the team at Fresh Start of California. We are here to answer your call 24/7.