There are many reasons a person may choose to use substances or alcohol to numb their feelings or cope with challenges in life. As the body becomes more resistant to substance consumption, the individual begins to try higher doses to get the same sensations, leading to extreme dependency. While substance use can grip a person tightly, addiction treatment can be immensely beneficial in helping a person recover and live a sober life.
In fact, many residential treatment programs in New Jersey make it possible for individuals with addiction to let go of their need to rely on them by combining a wide range of treatment methods. That said, the social stigma surrounding addiction often makes a person in recovery feel like an outcast. In fact, they are also faced with challenging situations where people blame them for ruining relationships, financial stability, and the future. To avoid getting into such altercations, a person needs to set boundaries to protect their peace and respect.
Why Are Boundaries Important During Addiction Recovery
Boundaries reflect who we are as people. They are a collection of our opinions, reactions to criticism, and ability to help others without jeopardizing ourselves. People set physical, emotional, and mental boundaries to protect themselves from harm. So when someone crosses these boundaries, they can speak up and safeguard themselves against potential triggers or sensitive areas they don’t want to discuss.
People in addiction recovery, as well as people who are supporting a loved one during this transformative phase, need to set boundaries to avoid emotional as well as mental exhaustion. Boundaries enable rebuilding healthy relationships that don’t enable the person to recover in any way.
Types of Boundaries You Need To Set
Addiction blurs a person’s sense of self, relationships, and, eventually, the responsibilities they have. Due to this, the boundaries they have with people also take a hit, either getting completely blurred out or they cease to exist. When working on rebuilding relationships and boundaries, it is crucial to recognize areas that have been impacted and work toward improving them.
At the same time, it’s important to recognize that you don’t have to restore old boundaries but instead work toward identifying how you want to be treated by others and where to put a stop when you don’t feel safe.
It is important to recognize that two types of boundaries exist, including:
Healthy Boundaries
These include not giving in or compromising when a boundary has been crossed. A few examples include:
- Saying no when someone offers an alcoholic beverage.
- Setting time or not attending events where friends or family members with substance misuse tendencies are present.
- Setting boundaries with friends and family who directly or indirectly enable previous substance engagement behaviors.
- Avoiding places or topics that can trigger memories related to the time when substance consumption was a critical aspect of your life.
- Disconnecting from people who constantly remind you of difficult times in your life in an attempt to degrade or show disrespect to you.
- Prioritizing self-care and giving yourself time to embrace the new you.
Unhealthy Boundaries
These include:
- Feeling responsible for how others feel about you or their perception of your recovery.
- Being made to do something as a means to compensate for the damage caused.
- Manipulative behaviors that make you feel like you have lost a lot must be compromised if you want to keep relationships.
- Not feeling heard despite repeatedly mentioning your struggles.
Potential Challenges
Setting strong boundaries and adhering to them in challenging situations is crucial to safeguarding yourself. Determining what affects you and how you want to protect yourself is crucial to preventing queries or overreactions.
Here are some hurdles to expect with boundary setting and more:
- Fear of rejection or abandonment.
- Not knowing where to start.
- Finding it difficult to challenge old belief systems.
- Worried about conflicts or confrontations.
- Having self-doubt about what you deserve.
Bottomline
Boundaries are like our soldiers; they prevent harm, neglect, or abuse to get past them. While in addiction recovery, you will be working on many aspects of your life that suffered due to addiction. Sticking to being true to yourself and creating boundaries that keep you safe without affecting your relationships will come through practice, as well as recognizing that your past doesn’t define who you are.
