Rebuilding Trust in Relationships After Addiction
The basis of all healthy relationships is trust. Addiction can destroy this foundation, leaving people to feel alone, hurt, and unsure of the future of their relationship. The path to rebuilding trust demands patience, dedication, and the ability to develop an open dialogue and supportive environment that emphasizes both sobriety and connection. There are various strategies that you can utilize in your recovery journey to help rebuild trust and set yourself up for success after treatment at Restoration Recovery.
The Influence of Trust on Relationships
Addiction not only impacts the individual who struggles with addiction, but their relationships with family, friends, and partners. The deceptive behaviors that the nature of addiction creates rarely leave room for rebuilding trust. Betrayed loved ones will be hurt, anxious, as well as uncertain about the future, and this complicates the restoration of the relationship to its previous state. Addiction can sometimes cause individuals to fall into a cycle of lying, which may affect their relationships in work environments as well as with friends and family.
The Addiction Cycle and Rebuilding Trust
In active addiction, the person addicted often finds themselves breaking promises, deceiving, and putting the substance before their relationships. The cycle of addiction and betrayal of trust creates a distrust pattern that is hard to break. Understanding this cycle is an initial step in overcoming the harm done by addiction.
Emotional and Psychological Effects
Many of those close to the individual who struggles with addiction pass through such emotions as anger, sadness, fear, and confusion when trust is broken. These emotions can instill a protective posture, where trust is denied as a way of defending oneself. The person in recovery is often left to deal with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear of rejection that can hinder the rebuilding of trust. Both sides have to admit these feelings and overcome them to move on.
Steps to Rebuilding Trust
The re-establishment of trust is a step-by-step process, which requires honesty and vulnerability. These steps can help to restore trust in relationships after the negative effects of addiction have taken a toll on the relationship.
Admittance and Acceptance
The initial stage of reinstating trust is recognizing the damage produced by the addiction. This includes assuming full accountability for all the past behaviors without justifying or pointing blame on others. By admitting and acknowledging these effects, you can validate the feelings of the individuals involved with the breach of trust and show a willingness to change.
Make Amends
An apology is an effective tool for restoring trust. Apologies should be honest, detailed, and then followed by matching actions that demonstrate the desire to correct the wrong behaviors. Reparation may include restoring financial harm, healing emotional injuries, and proactive efforts not to replicate past actions. These amends will differ depending on the specific situation and the effects that the behaviors had on the individuals involved.
Commit to Sobriety
Sobriety is often the most important step when rebuilding trust. Those in the circle of friends and family need to observe commitment in the person in recovery to stay sober. This requires loved ones to participate in recovery programs, attend therapy or support groups, and steer clear of situations that could prompt a relapse. Being an active participant in your loved one’s recovery at a treatment facility such as Restoration Recovery can help you see their actions to rebuild trust while reciprocating support for them.
Transparency and Accountability
Honesty regarding the actions taken in recovery can help to restore confidence in yourself and your loved one. The ways that often help overcome this include updating those close about the progress, speaking openly on challenges, and enabling accountability. For instance, participation in scheduled support group meetings and updates evidences a real intent to get sober. Staying involved in the treatment process can show a significant attempt to rebuild a newfound sober lifestyle.
Open and Sincere Communication
Communication is the key aspect of trust. The individuals working to repair trust must be comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and worries as they will not be judged or hurt. This requires active listening, empathy, and the willingness to take others’ opinions into account. A strong framework for communication can not only help you to rebuild trust but to establish a healthy communication style for your relationship moving forward.
Be Patient and Manage Your Expectations
Rebuilding trust is a slow process, which needs patience and understanding from both sides. It should be remembered that recovery is a long process and relapses may happen. Showing patience and compassion will enable both parties to stay with the process even when it is hard. Expectation management is critical for both the person in recovery and their loved one’s trust. Being aware that trust cannot be achieved in a day and being realistic about the process whereby trust will be built can prevent frustration. Setting clear boundaries and communicating your expectations can help to ensure that you are on the same page through the process of re-establishing trust.
The process of regaining trust after addiction to drugs or alcohol is a long and challenging process that involves time, effort, and, most importantly, truthful communication. If you are in this process, you must understand that admitting mistakes, apologizing, and staying sober are key steps to repairing these relationships. Be open, accept responsibility, and create a culture where people can express themselves without fear of retribution. You and your family members have the right to live a life where trust can be rebuilt and relationships can be mended. To learn more about ways that you can begin to re-establish trust after addiction, please reach out to Restoration Recovery today at (888) 290-0925.
