Can I Rebuild Trust After Addiction?
Trust is a fundamental component of relationships of all types – whether they are friends, co-workers, loved ones, peers, or other relationships. Without trust, what do you have? Bonds are built on trust, and it can be very difficult to rebuild trust once it is broken.
Substance abuse tends to leave a trail of destruction regarding trust and relationships. Drugs and alcohol can lead you to behave in ways that may be out of character, leading to a lot of wreckage, including broken trust. The great news is that with time and a lot of work, trust can be rebuilt if both or all parties are open to it.
Re-establishing trust within a relationship can take weeks, months, or even years. It is essential to be patient, communicative, and understanding as you and those you care about move through the healing process. Following a few steps for rebuilding trust can help guide things in the right direction and make navigating things a little easier.
#1. Take Responsibility
Owning up to your mistakes is never easy. Addiction can lead us to do and say things that we may regret. These things can include lying and deceiving those we care about most. Losing the trust of someone you love can be very detrimental, and if left unresolved, it can ruin the relationship.
Facing your wrongs and admitting your fault in things is the first step toward mending a relationship with broken trust. If you have been struggling with addiction, it is likely that your loved ones have watched you spiral and lose control as a result of drugs or alcohol. While this doesn’t lessen the blow when it comes to the things that damaged their trust, it does provide an explanation.
By taking responsibility for your actions, you are allowing space for understanding and empathy. Communicating about the things you remember doing wrong and even listening and acknowledging things you may not recall can help your loved ones begin to heal.
#2. Allow Time and Space
When you first come clean about your struggle with addiction and the consequences it has brought to your life, your loved ones may need some time to process the information. You can expect to receive some feedback that may be difficult to receive. They might share how your behavior or actions made them feel. You may learn of the sacrifices they have made to try to help you or hear about the many excuses they have made for you in your absence.
It is important for you to give your loved ones time and space to understand, grieve, and process the situation. If they knew of your struggle with addiction, they might find some peace in your decision to try to make amends. Maybe they were unsure of why things unfolded the way they did and are now learning that substance abuse led to the breaking of their trust.
Be prepared to be patient and try your best to show empathy for your loved one’s feelings. Understand that if they are close to you, they, too, have been significantly impacted by your addiction and need time to heal before rebuilding trust.
#3. Commit to Making a Change
This is where things can really begin to take a turn. Admitting your faults and accepting whatever the response may be is essentially preliminary work. After having these initial tough conversations, it is time to make a change.
One of the best ways to show your loved ones that you are working to make a change and rebuild trust is by seeking help for your addiction. Making the call to enter treatment displays that you are self-aware and recognize the weight of your problem.
Committing not only to mending the relationship but also to living a life of sobriety speaks volumes. This decision gives your loved ones confidence in you and hopes for mending the relationship.
Enlightened Solutions offers many opportunities for family members and loved ones to get involved in the treatment and healing process. We understand how addiction can affect the whole family and seek to establish understanding and help facilitate healthy relationships moving forward. Through our family program, loved ones can learn more about substance abuse, develop tools for coping and support, and find comfort among others who are navigating similar situations.
Trust is a hard thing to build and can be even more challenging to rebuild once it is broken. Unfortunately, substance abuse tends to lead to broken trust and strained relationships. By following the tips listed above and making the commitment to change, you can rebuild trust after addiction. Getting family members involved in the treatment process can promote healing for everyone and provide you and your loved ones with the support needed to move forward.
Trust is essential when it comes to forming and maintaining personal and professional relationships. If you are struggling with substance abuse, you may have experienced or caused trust to be broken. Trust can be a difficult thing to get back once it is lost. Sometimes, by following a few steps and putting in some work, over time, you can successfully rebuild trust in recovery. Enlightened Solutions can help guide you every step of the way. If you or someone you know could benefit from our holistic approach to treatment for substance abuse, we would love to hear from you. To start mending relationships through recovery, call Enlightened Solutions today at (833) 801-LIVE.
