Relationships are tricky things to maintain, but especially so when you are recovering from trauma or an associated co-occurring disorder. You might be questioning how you can keep up with your relationships during your recovery. The Guest House is here to help. Read on to learn more about how you can keep up with your relationships during your recovery!
Building Better Relationships
It’s important to know that you cannot control the people around you. What you can control, however, is the energy that you put into your relationships. You can only monitor your own actions, so it’s essential to maintain your energy levels throughout your recovery. When we think of maintaining relationships during our recovery, we mainly think of romantic relationships. There are also friendships and relationships with colleagues that should also be monitored. Each of these relationships is significant in its own way. It’s essential to keep up with and build those relationships, too. Below are a few ways you can actively keep up with the crucial connections in your life during your recovery:
Balance Your Interactions
If you find that your relationship is suffering due to time spent in recovery, that’s okay. You can mitigate that stress by making an effort to balance your interactions with the other person. They should realize, accept, and expect that you are making changes for the better during your recovery. This can include setting boundaries with your relationships. If, however, you feel like the other person is putting a bit more energy out there, try to balance that and do something nice for them. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, either. You can call them up if you haven’t spoken in a while or bring them a cup of coffee. Whatever it is, make sure to balance your interactions.
Make Time For Them
Recovery can leave you with little time on your hands. After all, you are focusing on yourself and working to improve your life. However, this doesn’t mean you should drop your friends. They should know that you won’t have as much time, but you shouldn’t take advantage of their understanding. Make time to see them and show them that you are making an effort because they are important to you.
Understand and Explain
Just like they should be understanding of your recovery, you should understand their boundaries too. If you think you have overstepped a boundary, explain to them your feelings and apologize if necessary. Relationships are built on trust and communication, so be sure to understand and explain.
The Guest House is here to help you build and better your relationships during your recovery. This is why we offer family therapy. Call us today at 855-483-7800. We can’t wait to hear from you!