The saddest part about addiction is that it makes your family’s love seem conditional. Addiction is a family disease because the entire family is affected physically, psychologically, financially, etc. Though you may have been the only active user, your entire family became sick with fear and resentment. Attending alcohol rehab is a major step in the right direction, but it is only the beginning. Recovery is a process for both your and your family. While you are navigating the world as a newly-sober person, your family is learning how to deal with you as a newly-sober person. Rebuilding trust with your family is a part of your and your family’s recovery.
Some of the ways that you can rebuild trust with your family after attending alcohol rehab in Florida are:
Follow Through On Your Recovery Plan
The best way to rebuild trust is to stay true to your word from here on out. If you tell your family that you will attend meetings, outpatient treatment, get a job, etc., follow through on it. Be honest about your actions, motives, and whereabouts. Going forward with honesty is the best policy when rebuilding trust.
Promote Communication
Communication is the key to any relationship, and it is especially vital during early recovery. Encourage an open line of communication by sharing your thoughts and feelings. Keep your sharing in the “I.” Allow your family to share their thoughts feelings and finishing saying what they want to say before responding. Keep in mind that just as you are entitled to your feelings, they are entitled to their feelings.
Live a Healthy, Productive Lifestyle
Recovery is not just about abstaining from using; it is about creating a whole new life for yourself. You need to live a healthy, productive lifestyle for yourself. Working your program, exercising, meditating, getting a job, enrolling in school, etc. are common changes that people make in recovery. Your family will witness these positive changes, and they will eventually build trust.
Recovering From Addiction as a Family
Just as addiction tore your life apart, it tore your family’s life apart. Just as it will take you a while to recovery, it will take a while for your family to recover. Patience is the key to recovering from addiction as a family. Your family will need to be patient with your progress, and you will need to be patient with your family’s progress in trusting you. Recovery is a process, not an event. Family meetings are designed to mend the relationships that were broken by addiction. Family meetings work by allowing you and your family to collaborate with other newly-recovering families on rebuilding the family system on the foundation of recovery.
Genesis House is located in Lake Worth, Florida. We are a highly-experienced facility that has a family program to help the entire family recovery. Call us today at 844-903-2111
