The disease of addiction can be very damaging to personal and family relationships. It can be difficult for those around you to trust you because of your behaviors while abusing alcohol or drugs. Fortunately, it is possible to regain trust after addiction treatment as long as you are committed to working on it, just like you are committed to working on your sobriety.
Getting Help With Addiction Treatment Is the First Step
The first step to show your parents, siblings, and friends you are serious about regaining their trust is to get help with your substance abuse disorder through addiction treatment. When your loved ones can see you want help with your addiction, it can lay the foundation for rebuilding trust.
Start Building Trust While in Recovery
After you have undergone detox and begun your treatment program, the next opportunity to build trust occurs while still in recovery. It is important to remember it will take time to restore and rebuild damaged relationships depending on the extent of your addiction and the behaviors it caused, such as:
- Lying to your parents, siblings, and friends.
- Stealing money or valuables from those you love.
- Getting into legal problems.
- Engaging in risky behaviors.
- Acting out aggressively or violently towards those you love.
- Ending friendships and relationships intentionally because of your addiction.
The best way to do this is to ensure family programming is part of your treatment plan while in recovery. Family programming is designed to help your parents and friends be a part of your recovery so that everyone you care about can be a part of the recovery process.
Rebuilding Family Relationships At New Life House
At New Life House, our family programming begins the moment parents bring their sons in for recovery treatment. The family is assigned Parent Guides, who are peer mentors, to help young men and their families begin the healing process. Many young men and family members become life-long friends with their peer mentors that extend beyond addiction treatment.
Families have several opportunities to connect with other families and young men in recovery through potluck dinners, socialization, and other events throughout the year. Our larger events are not just for our current young men undergoing treatment but also for our alumni and their families.
Steps to Regain Trust After Addiction Treatment
Even if you began building trust while in recovery, you still need to work on regaining trust after addiction treatment using these steps:
#1. Have Patience
Restoring trust takes time and is not going to happen overnight. You need to realize that some family members and friends may remain guarded and not ready to fully trust you because of what you put them through during your substance abuse.
#2. Rebuilding Trust Takes Two
No matter how much you want to rebuild trust with your family or friends, it is not entirely up to you. The damage you caused could have hurt those you care about the most. They may not yet be ready to forgive you or want to commit to rebuilding a relationship with you. If they are not ready, do not force them but let them know you are willing to work on it when they are ready.
#3. Demonstrate Actions Not Words
It is essential to show those you care about that you can be trustworthy through your actions. Unfortunately, you may have made empty promises while abusing substances. So, it can be difficult for your family and friends to believe what you say.
For example, if you are going to a meeting and will be home at a particular time, go to your meeting and be home on time. You could even invite your parents or friends to the meeting so they can see that you are being honest.
#4. Apologize to Those You Hurt
Part of recovery and making amends for your behaviors is to apologize to those you hurt. The apology should be sincere by focusing on how your addiction affected those you love. Take responsibility for your actions and let them know you want to repair the relationship and rebuild trust.
#5. Acceptance and Moving On
It is vital to remember that not everyone will want to make any efforts to rebuild a relationship with you. You need to accept this and move on with your recovery. Even though they may not be ready today, it does not mean that things could change later once they see you maintaining your sobriety.
#6. Be Consistent
Consistency is key to regaining trust after addiction treatment. You can show your family and friends consistency by sticking to an established daily routine and arriving on time for any social commitments you make.
Get The Best Help to Regain Trust After Addiction Treatment in Torrance, CA
At New Life House in Torrance, CA, we understand how important it is for young men to want to regain trust after addiction treatment with their families and friends. Our family programming teaches young men and their families a new way to interact and begin the healing process to rebuild trust.
To learn more about how we can help you regain trust during and after addiction treatment, please feel free to contact us, email us at [email protected], or call us at (888) 357-7577 today!
Last Updated on May 24, 2022
