Relationships after getting sober are sometimes not recommended unless you were in the relationship before getting sober and this is a part of your reason for getting help. Usually, recovery is a time for self-care and committing to your sobriety. It is a time to take care to rebuild the structure in your life and to control temptations and cravings.
Dating right out of recovery can make you more prone to relapse. You haven’t dated sober before, and it would be easy to slip back into old patterns. Often, people don’t want to reveal to others that they have been to rehab and are in recovery. However, it is imperative that you be honest about the fact that you have been to rehab and are now in recovery. If a person doesn’t want
to date you without you drinking or doing drugs, it is best to go ahead and know it from the beginning. Don’t waste your time on someone who doesn’t want what’s best for you and doesn’t appreciate the job you have done getting sober.
Don’t Start a Relationship Too Soon After Getting Sober
Don’t jump into a relationship just as soon as you get out of a treatment program. It has been said many times, that addicts trade one addiction for another. Doing so may be a way of self-gratification for you whereas the drugs or alcohol were before. Those in recovery need time to learn to deal with stressors. A new relationship could be a stressor in and of itself. You need to ask yourself if you are ready for a significant other or if you are just using them as a distraction. Starting any relationship should be done for the right reasons. Relationships after getting sober can be hard!
Make Sure Your Sobriety Stays at the Top of Your List
No matter what your relationship status, you must remember to keep your sobriety at the top of your list. You cannot let a relationship take precedence over staying sober. You don’t want a relationship to take priority over everything else. You must continue to attend meetings if necessary or do whatever your program calls for. Above all, do not neglect your routine which is helping you stay sober, and don’t get in a relationship where it may be possible for you to relapse by going to bars or parties where there is drinking or drug use. If the new person in your relationship is a drinker or drug user, this should be a red flag for you. You need someone in your life, at this time especially, who will support you and encourage you in your sobriety. Relationships after getting sober can lead you to a relapse.
Get to Know Yourself Before Starting New Relationships After Getting Sober
Many professionals suggest that people take at least one year in recovery before starting a relationship. It will take you this long to realize who you truly are as a sober individual. You have to get to know yourself before you can know someone else. Relationships can be stressful under any circumstances; you do not need added stress to your life at this time while you are trying to transition back into your life as a sober individual.
You have to learn to be happy with yourself before you can be satisfied in a relationship. This is the first thing for you to remember if you are considering a new relationship. Take the time you need to gain your self-esteem and self-confidence as a sober individual. Until you learn to love yourself, it will be hard for you to believe that someone else can love you for who you are. You have to develop healthy habits and secure your self-worth before you can be a good partner to someone else. Take
the time you need so you can have a healthy, happy relationship complete with all the joys of sharing your life with another.
