Rebuilding Relationships After Addiction: Guide for Families

A Guide for Families to Rebuilding Relationships After Addiction

Substance use has long-term consequences for both physical and mental health. A fact that many overlook is that addiction is often passed down through generations. It has repercussions beyond the individual affected, affecting their friends, family, and coworkers as well.
Relationships are one of the many things that suffer while someone is struggling with addiction. Rebuilding trusting bonds after drug abuse is feasible with professional support.
South Africa is home to a burgeoning population of recovering addicts, counsellors, and specialists, making it an excellent setting for alcohol rehabilitation centres. Get in touch with us for more information on our long term rehab centre. When someone struggles with addiction, their relationships suffer. We show you how to rebuild relationships after addiction.

Addiction and the family

When one member of the family struggles with substance abuse, the entire household is impacted. Addiction, no matter the substance, is a condition that affects the entire family and can be extremely trying for those who live with and are closest to the addict.
This illness has the potential to disrupt everyday domestic activities. Addicts can exhibit unpredictable behaviour whether they are sober, drunk, high, or in the process of detoxing from their most recent binge.
After the addict in your family has hurt you, let you down, disappointed you, and caused mayhem more times than you can count, the first step towards regaining trust is getting them into a drug and alcohol treatment programme. People with substance addictions need expert guidance in order to recover from their condition and lead substance-free lives.

Rebuilding Relationships After Addiction

Addicts need to be helped to accept the reality that their lives will not magically improve the moment they stop using drugs or alcohol. Clients in recovery are expected to accept accountability for their actions and the consequences of the choices they made when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even if they had little control over their substance abuse while trapped in the cycle of addiction, the damage done to their relationships with loved ones must be repaired. Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facilities employ a wide variety of therapeutic approaches to aid their patients.

Ending relationships that may prevent recovery

It’s important to remember that not every recovering addict’s relationship is a thriving one. Harmful relationships may deter the recovery process.
Instead of helping, such individuals will likely cause the client to take the first steps back into substance abuse. Those who are in recovery should end their relationships with people who are still abusing substances, or from whom they may have experienced abuse.
Codependent relationships might be a further obstacle for those seeking sobriety. Some loved ones may believe they have a responsibility to protect the addict from any negative outcomes that may arise as a result of their substance abuse.
The family member who has been codependent should also seek treatment in order to develop healthy new habits.

Work to rebuild trust

No matter the presence or absence of addiction in a relationship, trust is a crucial component. A person’s trust can be broken far more easily than it can be reestablished. To mend ties with loved ones after completing treatment, you must be willing to put in the effort required to keep the trust you’ve re-established strong. Think back on the times you made commitments as an addict that you were unable to uphold. How often did you make a promise and then fail to keep it by not appearing when you said you would? Can you count the number of times you promised to help someone but didn’t follow through? Try to put yourself in the shoes of others who have experienced these kinds of setbacks to their trust.

Making and honouring promises, no matter how modest, is a great way to begin restoring trust. Do more than just offer to help clean the house; follow through with your offer. Make a sincere effort to carry out a favour, such as running errands like picking up groceries or washing the car. Rebuilding your reputation as a reliable person begins with keeping little commitments and working up to larger ones.

Accept that some in your family will remain angry

When you accept your addiction and complete treatment, you’ll also accept that you have no influence over how others react to your story. They didn’t get to experience the same kind of healing you had in rehab; instead, they carried on as usual while you were getting back on your feet.
They will require time to process everything just as you did. For them, not a thing has altered. Persevering in making apologies with people may provide time to heal the scars sustained on both sides.
Your loved ones’ perspectives and attitudes will not suddenly shift. Even if they initially respond to your attempts with skepticism or hostility, you shouldn’t give up hope that they’ll come around with time.
It’s likely that those closest to you will ask for evidence that you’re making efforts towards your own rehabilitation. Going to meetings and making connections with individuals who are going through the same kinds of challenges as you might help your loved ones see how serious you are. Having someone you can lean on for encouragement and guidance can do wonders for keeping you on track.

A Guide for Families to Rebuilding Relationships After Addiction

Addiction and the family

Ending relationships that may prevent recovery

Work to rebuild trust

Accept that some in your family will remain angry

How to avoid turning to substances when alone

Managing stress without alcohol and drugs

How to support children who have parents in rehab