Bad habits are so hard to break. I was a smoker for about 30 years and couldn't seem to break the habit no matter what I tried. Every now and then, I was able to quite for a few weeks, but then, when I started smoking again, I smoked far more than I did before I quit. It wasn't until I accepted the fact that my smoking was a real problem and reached out for professional help with quitting. I started going to counseling and learned a lot about my bad habits and why it was so hard for me to give them up. This blog is all about counseling to break bad habits.
Relationships can be wonderful and enriching for a long list of reasons, but when you're a recovering drug addict, you need to be extremely discerning about those with whom you enter into a relationship. It's important to remember that you may feel shaky about your sobriety, especially if it's new. In fact, many newly sober people avoid relationships entirely for an extended period of time until they feel up to the task. If you've recently gotten into a relationship after getting sober, you must realize that there are several risk factors that could potentially lead to a relapse. Here are some examples.
Relationship Stress
Virtually all relationships contribute to stress in some manner. In some relationships, stress is only occasional; in others, a low or moderate level of stress may be present at all times. Stress is a concern for those who are sober, as it may compel them to begin using again. For such individuals, drugs may have frequently been a coping mechanism for dealing with stress. This means that if you're encountering any type of stress in your relationship, you might be at a higher risk of relapsing. This may especially be true after a relationship breakup, which can be extremely stressful.
Bad Influence
If you decide to get into a relationship as a sober individual, it's often ideal if you find someone else who is sober. If not, it's possible that this person may eventually become a bad influence who could increase your likelihood of having a relapse. For example, if you're sober and your partner enjoys drinking on the weekends, it may be difficult for you to resist. After all, you may feel left out if you don't go along with the partying lifestyle. As you've learned in treatment, just one drink could eventually lead you to begin using drugs again.
Failing To Make Time For Sobriety
Being sober is something at which you have to work. This could include attending several meetings each week, spending time with your sponsor, and even conversing online with other sober people. When you're in a new relationship, however, it can often be tempting to allow time with the other person to take over your life. On the surface, this may seem pleasing, but it can detract from the time that you've been dedicating to your sobriety. Over time, failing to make your sobriety a priority could increase the risk of a relapse.
For more tips and guidance to prevent relapse, speak with a professional at companies like ONTRACK.
Share8 March 2018
