Your Relationship In Recovery

11/15/18: Addiction \ Alcohol Addiction
Recovery is a very demanding process, you have to put in a lot of work to stay sober. This process can be especially difficult if you are in a relationship with someone who drinks. If your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife can’t give up the bottle, how are you going to give it up? Some argue that your partner should do all they can to support your recovery, while others may say they don’t need to change their lifestyle. But the answer isn’t so cut and dry. The following post will help provide some answers and tips for dealing with a situation like this.

It’s Okay To Be Selfish

maintaining sobriety when your significant other doesn'tUsually, selfishness is a poor quality where you have a lack of concern for others. In the case of addiction recovery, it’s okay to be selfish. Your partner should support you through decisions that are meant to help you. If your partner refuses to stop drinking around you, this is not only selfish on their end, but it can also trigger a possible relapse. In the recovery process, your recovery takes priority over everything else, even relationships. If it comes down to it, the relationship itself may need to be questioned if your partner refuses to support you. Though it may be difficult to say goodbye, it may be necessary if you want to continue living a sober life. Sometimes, the road to recovery needs to be traveled alone. Seeking a sober lifestyle isn’t about who will be beside you on the journey. You’ve got to be strong enough to go it alone. It is in no way beneficial for you to have someone in your life that doesn’t support you.

Sobriety Changes Your Outlook On Things

When you start your journey in sobriety, you will start to notice a lot of differences. Energy levels, food, touch, health, happiness, and many other things in your life will see significant change. When it comes to relationships during recovery, you may see noticeable changes in those as well. You may see a relationship get better or you may see that a relationship was only good when you weren’t sober. Your perspective on many things will change. With all of this, how you interact with your partner will transition to somewhere different than the past. Hopefully, the difference is for the better. Sobriety can bring about new perspectives on life and it is essential for you to take an emotional inventory of your partner and what your relationship has to offer. Each day living sober is another day to expand personal horizons, reassess individual goals and reexamine partnerships. If the cons far outweigh the pros, it may be time to reconsider the future of the relationship.

The Old You Is Gone … Will The Relationship Change?

A sober life brings changes you thought you might never see. A new lifestyle means a new you. When you live a life of addiction, you are dependent on something to help you get through life. Ridding yourself of substances that you depend on can completely change who you are. You may even seem like a totally new person. But, how will this affect your significant other? How will this affect your view on your partner? Sobriety can do a lot to a relationship, for better or worse. Your partner may love or hate your changes. In the same way, your new perspective on life may make you love or hate your relationship. It’s difficult to make a life-changing decision in the first year of sobriety, but a new lifestyle may lead to some big changes in your relationship’s future.

Essentials for a Half-Sober Couple

When you are living in recovery, it may be easy to assume your partner will stop drinking along with you. This is not always the case. Though it sounds ideal, your partner may not be as open to giving up alcohol as you are. The important thing to do is stay in a self-supportive place as you continue on your path to sobriety.

Here are a few tips and things for you to take away today:

  • Your recovery comes first, always.
  • Hope your partner will join you in sobriety, but don’t expect it.
  • Embrace the new you, even if your partner isn’t being supportive.
  • If your partner's decisions are hurting your recovery, suggest couples counseling.
  • If your partner continues to be unsupportive, remember that it is okay to let go.
If you are experiencing something like this, it’s okay. Be open with your partner about your feelings on their drinking habits and grow together in the process. Talk to someone you trust or consider counseling for you and your partner. Your sobriety always comes first, even over your relationships. Content for Arizona Addiction by Cohn Media, LLC. Passionate and creative writing and broadcasting, covering the following industries: addiction rehab, health care, entertainment and technology. Advocate of clear communication, positivity and humanity at its best. www.cohn.media

If you or someone you know needs help with addiction, contact 602-737-1619 or email [email protected] to get the help you need. Our acclaimed recovery environment merges upscale, luxury accommodations with affordability, clinical expertise and an unwavering commitment to patient care and aftercare.

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