When a person begins recovering from alcoholism, they start a journey through six specific stages of alcohol recovery as they learn to lead a life without alcohol. Deciding to quit drinking is not easy, but with a firm resolve and adequate social and emotional support, relationships in recovery the chances of a positive outcome are much higher. The six steps to alcohol recovery described here are based on an approach developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Relationships can be a source of support, or they can be stressors that threaten sobriety.
- These changes can shatter trust and create a lot of negative emotional experiences in your relationships.
- Relationships are effective in helping people in recovery stay healthy and increase their wellbeing.
- It can be uncomfortable to explain why they are sober because they risk being viewed differently and potentially losing a relationship.
- It can begin to feel like a never-ending cycle when struggling with AUD, so entering the recovery phase is a big deal.
- While it is okay to remain in a relationship during early recovery, you should not begin a new relationship before an individual has celebrated a year of sobriety.
Unfortunately, people with addiction are inclined to isolate, effectively cutting themselves off from the health-enhancing effects of social and emotional support. This support becomes even more important in early recovery when people are struggling to get used to life without using alcohol and other drugs. At this time, developing relationships that provide mutual support and connection https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is essential. Twelve-step programs and other mutual-aid resources help serve this vital purpose. There are many different treatment options for alcohol addiction to help you work through these stages of alcoholism. As stated above, one of the most significant stages of alcoholism is when you start problem drinking or using alcohol and drugs to cope with uncomfortable emotions.
Try to stop enabling behaviors
A 2018 study found that alcohol had negative effects on both partners in a relationship for different reasons. But there are ways you can recognize when alcohol might be negatively affecting your relationships — and when it may be time to get help. If you don’t want to meet face-to-face or call, try writing a letter or an email to initiate contact.
In both addiction and recovery, someone may become so focused on individual processes that they neglect the interpersonal processes with others. That is one reason people sometimes find that even though their addiction recovery is going well, their relationship recovery is lagging behind. Another reason for why people are advised to avoid relationships in the first year is that they need to get to know themselves better before they choose a partner. Those individuals who get sober and rush into a relationship tend to make terrible choices. Until the individual has managed to build a strong recovery, they will be vulnerable in a new relationship.
How to Rebuild Relationships in Recovery
Recovery can also sometimes uncover underlying mental health conditions that have contributed to substance use disorder. For example, up to half of people with substance use disorder have also experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, quitting drugs and alcohol also usually comes with mental health conditions, like anxiety or anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure).
It is hard to see the benefits of not drinking in this case, and the person may struggle with relapse unless they become able to bring about some real change. When evaluating the patient, doctors will carry out blood tests and other tests to assess the type and extent of damage, which alcohol addiction has inflicted. The person may be given medicine to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and asked to go on a special diet to fight malnutrition. He or she will also learn what to expect throughout the stages of alcoholic recovery.
People who struggle with addiction are emotionally unavailable.
While it may be tempting to rush into recovery at this point, experts actually caution against this sort of sudden action. In their book “Changing for Good,” psychologists James Prochaska, John Norcross and Carlo DiClemente warn that those who “cut short the preparation stage” are more likely to fail. Others in the precontemplation stage may feel hopeless and helpless about their situation or overwhelmed by the energy required to make a change. Alcoholics may even lie and blame others, rather than their addiction, for their problems. They usually resent suggestions that they should seek help or change their behavior.