Understanding what makes a relationship healthy instead of unhealthy is essential during recovery. During active drug use, you likely surrounded yourself with toxic people that enabled your substance use. Therefore, you have to unlearn many ways of thinking and learn what is healthy and what will help you grow.
Such efforts will require building a community around you that supports you and puts your recovery needs first. Learning to create healthy and safe relationships is the key to lifelong sobriety.
Rebuilding Past Relationships
Now that you are sober, you will want to build and restore relationships that will support you. While you should cut any toxic person from your past out of your social circle, there are some people you may want in your life. Although, you might worry about where to start because you may have hurt this person. Some ways you can get started include:
- Apologize: Start by apologizing for any action that resulted in hurt or harm. A sincere apology is a great foundation to begin healing the relationship.
- Set boundaries: Everyone should examine boundaries together and share their expectations for the relationship. Boundaries help everyone know what to do.
- Set relationship goals: Have new goals for your relationships by knowing what you expect and need from each relationship.
- Rebuild trust: Take the time to carefully and thoughtfully spend time rebuilding trust within the relationship.
Let Go of Relationships From the Past
Not all relationships from your past will support your recovery. You will want to remove individuals that are toxic to your life, because they could put you at risk of relapsing. Such individuals are not good for your mental or physical wellbeing. Some of these individuals might be considered close friends or even family. How do you sever unhealthy relationships from your past?
- Put your recovery first: Make a commitment to surround yourself with people that support your needs; these can be friends, family, peers, and professionals.
- Mean what you say: If confronted, have a conversation with the person about why the unhealthy relationship must end. Be direct and intentional about what you say and move on.
- Peer support: Change in relationships is hard; make a peer connection who will support this difficult transition.
What Are the Traits of a Healthy Relationship?
A healthy relationship should be supportive and help keep you motivated and accountable in your recovery. Some things that make a healthy relationship include:
- Open and healthy communication
- Empathy
- Trust
- Honesty
- Safety
- Support each other’s goals
- Forgiveness
- No judgment
Establishing healthy relationships may be hard work, but it is rewarding work. Such relationships will benefit you because they provide security, happiness, and support.
Chronic substance use can create chaos in your relationships and causes unhealthy thinking. Learning to recognize healthy relationships and finding a sense of community is key to lasting recovery. The Guest House will help you begin assessing your relationships and give you the tools to build and recognize healthy relationships. We understand that it can be difficult to sort out what is healthy and unhealthy in relationships with people and the family you care about. We are here to help you begin that process in a supported environment. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.