The Importance of Making Amends While You are in Recovery

If you or a loved one are seeking recovery from addiction, you will want to take all the steps towards overall well-being and healing to ensure a long-term recovery. This often means going beyond just abstinence from the substance, To include therapy, counseling, and making amends.

Why is it so important to make amends while in recovery?

Addiction Hurts More Than Just the Addict

Making amends will help you to gain support from your loved ones.

One part to acknowledging the issue at hand is to realize that the effects of addiction reach far beyond just the user. According to NIDA, addicts devote a majority of their time and money to the substance that they are addicted to, and neglect important relationships with those around them.

This can create tension and hurt among family and friends, and it is important to take steps towards healing these relationships while also healing your body. Depending on the severity of the situation, close loved ones may even have developed a form of codependency that needs to be treated just as the addiction needs to be treated.

If you think that family therapy or group counseling may benefit all those affected by the addiction, call 800-256-3490 for more information and a clear path on your next steps.

Loved Ones Can Support You Through the Process

SAMHSA lists having a network of support as one of the key components to addiction recovery. The individuals that you want by your side through it all will not know that you need support, however, unless you approach them and make amends for any trouble or hurt your addiction may have caused them.

Once they know that you are genuinely pursuing recovery, they can be there for you and offer encouragement, accountability, and community. Having people by your side who know you and love you makes such a difference in the effectiveness of treatments and recovery.

4 Things The Family Of An Addict Needs To Know During The Recovery Process

Heal Your Relationships for the Long Run

You may find that after battling with severe addiction, family or friends have stepped away and distanced themselves from the whole situation. Often, this is not due to lack of love or caring, but because the addict hurt them in some way and it is just too painful to remain in close contact. Once you begin recovery, however, there is no reason to let those relationships remain strained.

Rather than having anger towards those who distanced themselves during your struggles, try to see from their perspective and understand how difficult it may have been for them through it all. They should also be understanding that you are in the process of making a change, and together you can work to heal the relationship for the long run.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and are ready to make a change, call 800-256-3490 to speak with a caring specialist who can answer your questions and concerns. The road to recovery is often long and difficult, but by making amends you can heal relationships and gain support from the ones you love.