If you are seeking help for your addiction, you may think it might be easier if both you and your spouse attend drug rehab together. However, the emphasis has to be primarily focused on the treatment of the individual. One of the hardest parts of going into rehab is leaving your family.
While going into drug rehab can make your relationship stronger, there are also other complications that may arise from attending treatment together. Drugs and alcohol have probably damaged your marriage. It may be hard to know which of your problems are drug-related and which ones are related to your relationship. During your active addiction, it is likely that your partner has been your primary source of emotional support and you have both also fallen into poor patterns of behavior. Recovery gives you a chance to improve your lives and improve your marriage.
How Effective is it for Married Couples to Go to Drug Rehab Together?
Not all facilities take couples into treatment, but there are a select few that do. You can even find treatment centers that cater exclusively to couples. At these centers, you’ll find a therapy that focuses on treating the addiction within the marriage. However it is important to remember that seeking treatment as a couple should never be at the expense of an individual receiving the care they desperately need. Recovery from addiction requires an individual to be motivated and put in the work needed to achieve long-term recovery. This is also true for couples.
The Cons of Couples Therapy
There has continued a long debate about whether or not it is a good idea for married couples to attend drug rehab together. While the support of having your loved one in treatment with you may sound like a great idea, there are also various complications that can arise in couples therapy. Unhealthy relationship dynamics can hinder the recovery process when couples decide to go through rehab together.
Couples therapy can be harmful and difficult if both partners are not fully committed to the process. Furthermore, many married couples who have actively used drugs and alcohol together are often codependent and have adopted unhealthy patterns of behavior in which they participate together. Fearing the reaction of their partner, a more passive partner in a codependent relationship may find it difficult to speak freely to therapists and other addiction professionals which a vital component of drug rehab. Ultimately, couples may become too focused on each other’s recovery and not their own.
Another obvious concern of going to drug rehab with your spouse is whether a relapse by one partner might trigger the other person to slip. Because the risk of relapse is the highest during the stabilization period, this is the most vulnerable time for both partners of the marriage. Therefore, if one person is not fully committed to their sobriety, it may trigger the other to fall back on negative patterns of behaviors as well.
Recovery is a highly individualized process, even if a couple begins their journey to sobriety in unison, they may grow apart and realize they are out of sync throughout the drug rehab process. One person may progress more slowly than their spouse and may end up feeling pressured or a sense of failure. Likewise, if one person is progressing faster, he/she may end up feeling resentful toward a spouse who is struggling. For the reasons listed above, many addiction professionals recommend separate courses of treatment for individuals entering drug rehab.
Drug Rehab for Couples vs Going to Drug Rehab Alone
Before discussing the option of attending a rehab inpatient or outpatient program with your spouse, it is important to review the benefits that rehabilitation centers and facilities offer. Understanding the significance of the role rehabilitation centers and programs play when getting sober is essential when creating a plan of action to stick to for your future. There are a multitude of options going to drug rehab with your spouse, however there are a plethora of benefits of going to drug rehab alone.
- Zero-tolerance zones. Rehab centers and facilities offer zero-tolerance zones to minimize the risk of temptation while also keeping enrolled individuals free from any possession of drugs and alcohol. Most rehabilitation centers and programs do not allow any form of drugs or alcohol on the premises, including cigarette tobacco. A zero-tolerance zone helps to build a sense of community while allowing you to feel at ease and relaxed without wanting to use drugs or alcohol during your stay.
- Implement routine into your everyday life again. Routines are a necessary part of human life, and work to ensure productivity throughout each day. Without routine, you are much more likely to turn to use drugs and substances again when feeling bored or despondent.
- Connect with individuals who have similar pasts and experiences.
- Work directly with an individual counselor or therapist.
- Rediscover hobbies and activities that were once a source of joy in your life. Feeling depressed, anxious, and alone are all common emotions felt when struggling with an addiction. Relearn how to enjoy hobbies and activities you once enjoyed once you begin on your path to living a sober life.
What Happens After a Couple Completes Drug Rehab?
Couples addiction recovery begins once both partners have completed drug rehab. For couples that struggle with addiction, recovery is a lifelong process that requires commitment. A supportive, loving relationship can maximize your chances of success, but that is a small part of the process. Couples therapy can be beneficial for individuals recovering from addiction, long after treatment has ended.
Drug rehab with your spouse may prove to be ineffective in the following scenarios:
- When one individual is less motivated an more likely to relapse and leave treatment early
- When there is a history of domestic violence
- When one individual has a physical or mental health condition requiring a higher level of care
- The individuals are severely codependent and only agree to receive treatment together
Although there are challenges inevitable for anyone seeking addiction recovery, you can take steps to increase the likelihood of maintaining long-term sobriety. If you are both committed to staying sober, you can find resources both individually and as a couple. There are a very few sober living homes that permit married couples to move in. You might want to live there for a short time as a transition into regular life.The couples drug rehab or individual drug rehab you attend can recommend follow-up solutions for you. Relapse rates among addicted couples are high, so it’s especially important to establish your aftercare plans.
Drug Rehab in Florida
By making a commitment to sobriety and to your marriage, you can strengthen your bond and preserve your family. Get started now by calling our counselors anytime at 844-903-2111.
