5 Ways to Rebuild a Relationship During Recovery

Rebuilding a relationship after treatment for drug or alcohol addiction will take time. While you are in recovery, your family will also need time to heal from your addictive behavior. When trust is broken, it can be hard to mend your relationship. Respect your loved one’s boundaries. Showing that you respect their expectations and boundaries is a great start to mending a broken relationship with family and friends.

Drug and alcohol abuse affects family relationships and friendships. Loved ones struggle to understand and cope with your addictive behavior. Some people are affected differently by their loved one’s addiction.

Some behaviors of a person with an addiction:

• Lie, steal, and cheat
• Become aggressive or violent and break the law
• Say hurtful things and become reckless and selfish

These behaviors damage a relationship and make it difficult to trust again. Family members and friends can mistakenly enable their loved one. Family and friends go through an exhausting emotional odyssey with their loved one’s addiction. They need therapy for issues related to their loved one’s drug and alcohol abuse. Going to family or group therapy can help the healing process for everyone affected.

Here are 5 helpful ways to rebuild a relationship during your recovery:

1. Journaling. Start journaling on a regular basis to keep a record of your progress. Writing allows you to express your feelings, keep your mind active, and reflect on your journey through tough times and accomplishments.
2. Communicate. Listen to your loved one’s conversation and remain calm, respectful, and responsive. Engage in positive and effective communication.
3. Avoid relapse. Identify the people, places, or things that could lead to relapse. Develop a plan to avoid situations that put you at high risk to abuse drugs and alcohol again. Find sober people to be around and meet new friends at group meetings. Stay away from establishments that remind you of your drug or alcohol use.
4. Nurture interest in your loved one’s lives. Go on walks with your spouse, go to a baseball game with your child, attend your sister’s scrapbooking get together, or spend some quality time with your parents. Find interest in their lives and show them you care.
5. Take care of yourself. Continue to make improvements and reinforce your commitment to sobriety. Family and friends will see your progress, which will help to regain trust.

Recovery is a lifelong process and takes a lot of effort and dedication to stay sober. Rebuilding relationships with loved ones will help with your recovery as you establish support and encouragement from your family and friends.

Relationships are strained in active addiction but healed in active recovery. The best move to make for recovery is the quickest move by calling and asking for help immediately. Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit. Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic based, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders. Call 833-801-5483 today for information on our partial care programs.