The Role of Relationships in Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Addiction damages relationships. You lose touch with yourself, your higher power, and others such as family and friends. The object of the addiction – be it alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, food – becomes the addict’s primary relationship, while all others become insignificant.
To begin the recovery process, you must first repair and nurture your relationship with yourself, as this forms the basis for all other relationships. How do you do that? Forgive yourself for the past, let go of your unhealthy emotions and feelings, and allow yourself to start anew with a clean slate.
Next you must discover and cultivate your relationship with your Higher Power, whatever that is to you. All 12-Step addiction treatment programs are based on spirituality, and re-connecting with your spiritual beliefs is an essential component of recovery.
Once your relationship with yourself and your Higher Power is on solid ground, then you can focus on repairing relationships with family and friends and ensuring that they are supportive of your recovery journey.
In fact, relationships are often the biggest reason that an addict relapses. If you are in recovery and continue to hang out with friends who drink or do drugs, then you are highly likely to relapse. Family support is an important part of recovery, however, you can recover even if your family does not provide that support.
Throughout the course of your outpatient therapy at the Hanley Center, our addiction therapists will help you address damaged relationships, learn how to make amends or let go of unhealthy relationships, and identify strong family and peer relationships that support a sober lifestyle.
