Now that you are receiving treatment for your alcohol and drug substance abuse, you are probably feeling better physically and starting to see past your foggy brain. Seeing others around you with new, sober eyes could lead you to have romantic feelings for someone that you are coexisting with at your rehabilitation facility. You are already building a security net with recovery tools and this love interest seems to be a part of that whole equation, but you might be setting yourself up for failure regarding your sobriety.
Even though you may be feeling like you can conquer the world in your newfound sobriety, the truth is that your emotional sobriety may not be as strong as you think. Most likely this relationship is being hidden from the staff and from other patients because relationships within the walls are typically frowned upon. Having two people who are trying to stay sober get involved in a secret rendezvous usually only leads to more problems and one of those problems could undo everything you are fighting against – relapse.
Why are new relationships considered a bad idea?
As you are working towards long-term sobriety you are growing and developing a new way of life for yourself. If you are embarking on a new relationship during this time of growth, you could impede everything you have been working so hard for. Relationships are full of ups and downs, insecurities, and even worse, codependency. Having to deal with the issues that surround a relationship while trying to focus on your recovery could cause you to very easily get let down and want to drink or use to cope with the pain.
What if I meet “the one”?
If you meet the person you have been searching for your whole life in rehab and they feel like your soulmate, then you should have no problem waiting out the relationship for the appropriate time. Someone who is meant to be in your life for the long haul will understand your limitations, respect you and your sobriety, and want you to be healthy and thriving in your recovery so that you can be a good partner to them and vice versa, you will also want the same for them. Acting on feelings of lust and the butterflies in your stomach is not the reality of how a long-term relationship will work. Even the best relationships are difficult to navigate through. Taking the time to resolve the past issues you have continuously encountered will help you to handle all the adversities that will come up in a new, sober relationship.
Take to heal yourself before you add anyone else into the mix. Time takes time and you can make better decisions by talking to someone about this person before you jump into yet another toxic relationship. You may not want to be alone although being sober and alone is better than relapsing by grasping for a relationship that may not work.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Valiant Living offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Valiant fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
