How To Rebuild Relationships After Rehab

As cliché as it seems, the only way you will be able to rebuild relationships following addiction is if you take the time to rebuild yourself. It takes a lot of self-reflection and meditation to think about the person you were, how your actions impacted others, and what you need to do if you want relationships to be better. If you close your eyes to the people you have hurt and turn a blind eye to the painful things you have done, it is unlikely that you will be able to repair what is broken. Here are some keys to rebuilding relationships after rehab.

Each Relationship Is Different

Repairing each relationship in your life will require different steps. This is because your relationships are different. Additionally, how you can hurt people changes based on what is expected from you in your relationships with them. Additionally, you will need to consider how addiction has changed your relationships. For example, your friends or family members may have set boundaries on interacting with you while dealing with addiction. They may have avoided inviting you to social gatherings, lending you money, or spending unnecessary time with you.

Some may still be leery and feel unsure about how much trust they should have with you. Now that you are out of rehab, your friends and family may be willing to wipe the slate clean. Your loved ones may have PTSD from the trauma they experienced as they interacted with you during addiction. They felt helpless, scared, and frustrated as they watched someone they love put themselves in adverse situations because of drug abuse. Spending time thinking about a person you care about who is injured, sick, or dead because of substance abuse can leave a person with mental scars that damage the relationship. A critical factor in fixing things is having clear in mind what the relationship was like and how it was destroyed.

Work to Make Amends

Facing the people you wronged while under the influence of drugs can be a challenge. This is especially true if your actions caused them severe emotional, physical, or financial harm. Now that you are not under the influence of drugs, you might feel shame and vulnerability. You realize there is a chance that these individuals will reject you, or they may bring up things that you did that were embarrassing.

Communication is essential. You should feel free to express yourself, but you should also be willing to let those you wish to make amends with express their concerns. If you are committed to correcting the past, you will try to understand their viewpoint. Unfortunately, not all relationships can be mended. Certain relationships, particularly romantic relationships, may not endure the chaos caused by active addiction. The cheating, stealing, and lying that was a part of the past may have burnt bridges that can’t be rebuilt. In these cases, you need to figure out how to make peace with that, learn from the experience, and grow moving forward.

Learn to Be Patient and Accepting

Don’t be surprised if some people don’t believe you are serious about fixing broken relationships in the early stages of recovery. Trust takes time to rebuild. So be patient with others in the same way you expect them to be patient with you. Recognize that things have changed. Friends, family, and parents will take time to adapt to the new you. However, in many cases, change is for the better. And it is a crucial factor in rebuilding relationships after addiction. Are you ready to start the road to recovery? We can help. Call us now at 954-523-1167.