Addictions affect every area of a person’s life including relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships for those in early recovery can be particularly challenging. Recovering addicts must re-learn a lifestyle that is centered on maintaining sobriety. Developing an open and honest dialogue with your partner and establishing basic guidelines, will help those in recovery find success and keep your relationship on track.
Addicts give up certain aspects of their lives in order to maintain their addiction. This can come at the expense of relationships and those we care about. Rimrock believes in the healing power of family involvement in the treatment process through things such as our family week, however, the involvement of loved ones can be just as important in recovery.
Recovery is a time of self-discovery and one in which the focus must be on building a new abstinent lifestyle. This will include developing new routines and identifying a new direction for one’s life. For those in a committed relationship, it’s important for both partners to be open and supportive of these changes. Individuals who are in recovery need to focus on making improvements and progress in their recovery. While this may take up the majority of a person’s time, it will likely improve your relationships as well.
Even the strongest of relationships can experience turbulence at times. When disagreements occur, it is common for emotions to run high and pain is often the result. It is normal for us to seek comfort from this pain. In early recovery, a person may feel the compulsion to alleviate physical stress or emotional discomfort by reverting to their past substance abuse. The ability to remain sober in these periods will require an individual to implement the skills and strategies they learned while in treatment. It is important for loved ones to understand that their partner is especially vulnerable during early recovery and they need to be as supportive as possible.
Working together is the key to keeping your relationship healthy during recovery. Even if you are going through a turbulent time, leaning on each other is critical in avoiding a relapse. Maintaining an open and honest dialogue will help both partners understand what the other is experiencing and this can help you find success in both recovery and your relationship.
Rimrock is committed to making sure your family is healthy and cohesive. If you are curious about our many services, call us directly at 406-248-3175 or 800-227-3953. We have staff available to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also find us on Facebook, or learn about our programs by visiting our website at www.rimrock.org.
