Standing by Someone at Risk of Relapse: A Guide for Loved Ones

Supporting a loved one during a high-risk period is not a checklist — it is a quality of presence. Dr. Saulitis identifies several principles that actually make a difference.

What matters most: the feeling of "you are not alone"

When someone is in a vulnerable state, what you promised matters less than whether they feel you are truly on their side. Genuine emotional investment outweighs formal commitments. An extra phone call, real engagement, and the willingness to show up in uncertain moments — these are what keep a person grounded.

What a person needs is not a promise — they need to feel that you are genuinely on their side and doing everything you possibly can.

Never leave someone alone in an acute moment

This is especially critical when something sudden and shocking happens — a loss, a crisis, an unexpected blow. In those moments, isolation is most dangerous. The single most important thing is that the person does not end up alone.

Watch for basic warning signals: sleep and appetite

Loved ones are often the first to notice that something is wrong. Disrupted sleep is one of the earliest and most serious signs. If the person has stopped sleeping normally, that is already a signal that professional help is needed. Without adequate sleep, memory deteriorates, immunity drops, fatigue accumulates — and the risk of relapse rises sharply.

Involvement matters more than advice

You do not need the "right words" or ready-made answers. What matters is real emotional involvement — the person sensing that you are going through this alongside them, not simply playing the role of helper. That feeling — "I have not been abandoned" — is a genuine protective factor in relapse prevention.