Drug addiction takes away who a person is before they’re even aware it’s occurring. Piece by piece, each aspect of a person’s life is neglected as the substance becomes a priority, often leading to relational issues between the user and their family members and friends. Users may begin to sneak around, lie often and destroy the bond of trust between themselves and their loved ones. Following recovery, rebuilding trust after addiction is often a top priority for people with substance abuse disorders.
When a person is physically and emotionally dependent on substances, it’s almost impossible to visualize what life would be like without them. Drug rehab centers provide multiple levels of care to those who need help recovering from addiction and teach them how to achieve a life without substances.
Choosing to move forward from your past by accepting readily available help is the first step to rebuilding trust with your family and loved ones again. Learn how to build trust again within your family after going to drug rehab.
Set Realistic Expectations
If you’re recently sober, you might feel good about the progress you’ve made, and you absolutely should, too. Getting sober is no easy task, so it’s important to take pride in going through the necessary steps to freedom from substances. However, you may be so focused on the progress you’re making that you might even forget about how you acted while you were still using and the effects it had on others around you, such as family members.
When repairing relationships after drug rehab, it’s important to remember that just getting sober doesn’t make everything go away. You have to work to rebuild trust within those relationships again. Setting realistic expectations and knowing that nothing can change overnight can be a great way to go about the rebuilding process. Remember that you can’t control others’ behaviors, only your own. Understanding this and taking responsibility for your actions can be key to your reconciliation.
Be Patient
Part of setting realistic expectations is remembering to be patient. As we touched on above, nothing is going to be fixed overnight, and it’s important to remember that. How long it takes to rebuild trust partly depends on your loved ones’ experiences during your addiction, but the recovery process is usually a lengthy one.
It’s important to remember that when you were suffering from addiction, you did whatever you needed to do to keep using. That might have included lying, cheating or even stealing from family members and loved ones. Just because you’ve gotten sober doesn’t mean those family members and friends aren’t going to be apprehensive around you at first. They may wonder, “Can you trust an alcoholic or addict?” It’s okay, though, because as long as you continue to stay sober, you’ll eventually earn their trust back. Just be patient and trust the process as you continue rebuilding your life in sobriety.
Learn Healthy Communication Methods
One of the best ways to help rebuild a positive relationship with those you hurt during your addiction is to simply listen. While many people around you might have expressed their concerns to you while you were using, you probably weren’t in the right frame of mind to listen to them. Your focus was on getting your next fix.
Listening allows you to hear how you hurt that person, but you can also learn how to fix the broken relationship most of the time. In many situations, the person is telling you how you can remedy the situation. You just have to actively listen to figure out how to do it. Not to mention, friends and family will feel more comfortable about expressing themselves directly to you if they feel they’ll truly be heard.
On the other side of that, learning how to better communicate allows you to stay calm should a conversation go south. Let’s face it, not everyone is going to be willing to just forget about what happened when you were using. Some won’t be as understanding as others, and hurtful words might be spoken. In those situations, it’s important to know what to do to diffuse the situation. Effective communication techniques lower the risk of getting into petty disputes. Knowing what to do can help remedy the situation, or you can withdraw from the conversation altogether before it escalates further.
Eliminate Unhealthy Relationships
Chances are, when you were using, you made some “friends.” It’s important to know who’s a real friend and who isn’t. The people you had in your life while you were addicted to drugs and alcohol probably aren’t really your friends, especially now that you’re pursuing sobriety. They were with you because you all shared the common goal of getting high or drunk. Continuing to hang around those people after you’ve gotten sober only provides unnecessary temptation to start using again. It’s important to learn to cut out toxic relationships after drug rehab.
Those in drug rehab should tend to stay away from codependent people as well. It’s natural for some people to want to look after their family member who’s in recovery. It’s even natural to want to shield that person from future temptations or actions. However, this isn’t healthy for either party.
Part of the recovery process is learning to accept the past and deal with the consequences. It’s also important to be able to face the “demons” and learn how to handle them. A person who’s constantly trying to shelter someone in recovery isn’t doing themselves any good, and they aren’t helping the person in recovery either.
Making Amends: Practical Steps to Rebuilding Trust After Addiction
While there’s no fast-track way to regain the trust of your friends and family, developing some simple, practical habits can help you show your loved ones you’re serious about staying sober.
When someone they care about struggles with addiction and goes to rehab, friends and relatives often watch anxiously for signs that the person is recovering — or heading toward a relapse. Attending support groups, treatment sessions or any other recovery activity recommended by your health care provider may reassure your loved ones you’re focused on building healthier habits. While 40% to 60% of people relapse after addiction treatment, engaging in recommended aftercare significantly lowers your risk.
While some people feel the need to withdraw from their close relationships during addiction recovery, the right social support can boost the odds of successful treatment. For many family members of people struggling with substance misuse, having difficulty contacting their loved one can cause significant anxiety. This anxiety may be particularly acute if you have a history of being uncontactable during relapses. Ensuring you’re available when your loved ones want to talk, even just to reassure them you’re doing fine, can help put their fears to rest. Alternatively, consider setting aside a regular timeslot to spend time with your loved ones if sporadic contact feels unmanageable.
Finally, take steps to develop a routine that supports your mental and physical well-being. A healthier lifestyle can help your body and mind handle the challenges of recovery while demonstrating your commitment to your loved ones. Ideas to explore include:
- Joining a sports team or exercise class
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
- Practicing yoga, meditation or other mindfulness techniques
- Prioritizing proper hydration
- Improving your sleep hygiene
- Engaging with health care professionals to manage any preexisting health conditions
Building new habits can be challenging, especially if you’ve been making unhealthy choices for a long time. Your health care team can advise you on the most suitable activities for your needs and provide ongoing support as you adjust to life after rehab.
The Role of Family Therapy in Rebuilding Relationships
Family therapy can help you and your loved ones discuss your feelings about your addiction in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Research shows family therapy improves family functioning while reducing drug consumption. During therapy, your therapist helps you address dynamics that could negatively affect your recovery and helps the family learn communication skills for happier, healthier relationships.
Recovery Can Help Repair Relationships
If you’ve already gone through drug rehab and you’re on the road to recovery, you’re on the right path to regaining trust with your family. Accepting the help and remaining teachable in this process is critical for you to maintain long-term sobriety.
Don’t give up hope, no matter how much time and effort it takes to regain all that was set aside during your addiction. Rewrite your story without substances, give it a fair chance and see how far life takes you without them. Many people have lost the battle with addiction by giving up too soon and, in reality, lives will continue to be lost if the help isn’t accepted. There’s a chance to recover and learn how to build back trust with your family and others as well.
Are You Looking for Drug Rehab?
Too many families have lost their loved ones because of an addiction, and addiction doesn’t discriminate about who it can affect. If you or a loved one needs drug rehab, we’re the helping hand you need to grasp.
Take the First Step
At FHE Health, we have all the tools you need to live your life free from addiction. Choose life and contact us today. Our compassionate team of counselors is standing by 24-7 to take your call.
