Early sobriety and relationships have to be handled with care. Everyone wants to feel loved & connected but sometimes relationships can lead back to a relapse.

Did you know that relationships are one of the top triggers of relapse?

Early sobriety and relationships have to be handled with care. Everyone wants to feel loved and connected, but sometimes relationships can lead to a relapse. Check out the truth about relationships in recovery.

Should Relationships be Avoided During Recovery?

It's common advice that new relationships be avoided in the first year of sobriety. This is because the distraction and potential pitfalls of a relationship can hinder and even lead to a relapse.

The early recovery period is a time for focusing on one's self. Addicts give up so much while they are pursuing their drug of choice, so when they begin their sober living, they must learn what life is like without the drugs and/or alcohol.

Think of it as building a new life. A new chapter of self-discovery. Relationships need focus and energy and can take away from the time a person needs to spend focusing on themselves. This is a very sensitive time and the person should never neglect their recovery.

If you have to question whether or not you are mentally and emotionally prepared for the potential pitfalls of relationships, you shouldn't enter a new relationship just yet. Avoiding relationships is necessary until you are truly ready.

Pitfalls of Relationships in Early Recovery

There are pitfalls of having relationships during the early periods of recovery. Some of these potential issues are:

• wanting to rescue the addict or wanting to be rescued
• being too clingy
• trust issues
• replacing the addiction with love or sex

Recovery should be taken one day at a time, so you need to be patient whether you're the one recovering or you're in a relationship with someone who is.

Red Flags of Toxic Relationships During Recovery

If you're in a toxic relationship and you or your partner is in the early stages of sobriety, there are measures that needed to be taken. Red flags that should be addressed include, but are not limited to:

• physical or emotional abuse
• controlling behavior
• unsupportive partner

Another big red flag is a lack of integrity. Integrity means that a person does what they say they will do. Toxic relationships are a "silent killer". They can slowly eat away at recovery and can lead to a relapse.

Part of toxic relationship recovery may be to just end the relationship with a drug addict. This can be scary and difficult, it may be best for both parties. If you have a history of enabling an addict then they may come to expect that from you and it will not benefit them whatsoever during recovery.

Handle Early Sobriety and Relationships with Care

It's so important to handle early sobriety and relationships with care. Sobriety has to be the top priority for any addict, so that means focusing on the relationship with themselves first. There's a fine line between recovering addicts and relationships and it should be tread very carefully.

Are you or a loved one ready to start a sober living lifestyle? Contact us today to talk to an intake specialist to start your road to recovery now.

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