If Addiction Is Harming Your Relationships You Can Get Sober— And Repair Your Broken relationships
Addiction is a devastating illness that can take a serious toll on relationships. The person struggling with addiction may have difficulty expressing their needs, they can hurt others unintentionally with the side-effects of their illness, and disappointment is a hallmark of addiction. The people closest to people with addiction can feel powerless in the face of the illness. They can feel as though there is nothing they can do to help their addicted loved ones, they can feel hopeless, and they can feel hurt and angry at not just the addiction, but the addict as well.
But even though addiction is a difficult challenge, it’s far from impossible to repair a relationship after it’s been damaged by addiction. In some cases, relationships may not be able to go back exactly the way they were before the trouble started, but in many cases they can be repaired to some degree. Many relationships can even get stronger.
In this article, we will discuss how to mend relationships after an experience with addiction and how to build stronger bonds with those around you.
The Effects Of Addiction On Relationships
The effects of addiction on relationships are often devastating. The addict may lie, cheat, steal, or otherwise behave in ways that destroy trust and lead to conflict. Even if the addict manages to stay sober, the damage done to the relationship may be irreparable.
If you’re in a relationship with an addict, you may feel like you’re walking on eggshells all the time. You never know when they’re going to relapse or what they’ll do when they’re using. This can make it difficult to maintain any sense of stability or predictability in the relationship.
Addiction can also take a toll on your own mental and emotional health. You may find yourself feeling isolated, anxious, depressed, or even codependent on the addict. It’s important to seek out support from friends, family, or a therapist if you’re struggling to cope with the effects of addiction on your relationship.
We want to stress, addiction is a thorny disease. Not even the addict knows when they will relapse, when they will start using again, and when they will make a mistake— as long as they aren’t sober. It can be almost impossible to repair relationships while still using drugs, and the healing process can only really start after the addict has made the decision to get sober and has taken steps to do so.
Again, to really repair relationships addicts must be sober. There really isn’t another way.
How To Get Sober To Save Your Relationships
If you’re struggling with addiction, know that you’re not alone. Many people have successfully overcome addiction and gone on to lead happy, fulfilling lives.
There are a number of things you can do to increase your chances of success in getting sober. First, reach out for help from a friend, family member, therapist, addiction counselor, or ideally, an addiction treatment center like ours. They can provide support and guidance as you navigate this difficult time.
Second, develop a support system of sober friends or attend meetings for people in recovery. These individuals understand what you’re going through and can offer helpful advice. A recovery center also offers these services and more to get free— such as medically assisted detox, sober living situations, therapy, sobriety meetings, strategies for living sober, you name it.
Third, make healthy lifestyle choices such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. These habits will help improve your overall well-being and make it easier to resist temptation. A treatment facility can help you learn all of this.
Finally, be patient with yourself as you work towards sobriety. It’s a process that takes time and effort, but it’s worth it to improve your relationships and overall quality of life.
How To Repair A Relationship After Addiction
If you or your partner are struggling with addiction, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy and supportive relationship. However, it is possible to repair the damage that addiction has caused and build a stronger relationship than ever before. Here are some tips for how to repair a relationship after addiction:
- Communicate openly and honestly with each other about your thoughts, feelings, and needs.
- Seek professional help to address the underlying issues that led to the addiction in the first place.
- Attend support groups or therapy sessions together.
- Create healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and triggers.
- Spend time doing things you enjoy together as a couple, as family, or as friends.
Repairing your relationship is possible— but it takes work, and it takes sobriety.
Get Help, Get Sober, Repair Your Relationships
Repairing a relationship after addiction is no easy task, but it is possible. With patience, communication, and understanding from both parties involved, it’s possible to rebuild trust and create a stronger bond than ever before.
Both the addicted person and their loved one should reach out for help— be that through therapy, support groups, or a treatment center like ours— so that they can find the best way forward together. The path may not be easy but with dedication from both sides of the equation, anything is possible.
If you’d like help getting sober, please give us a call at (615) 410-9260. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
