Rebuilding Trust After Addiction

During an addiction, an individual with a substance use disorder can lose a lot of things. They can lose the grip they have on their physical and emotional health. Many people who struggle with an addiction may also lose their financial stability by spending a lot of money on substances or through other risky financial ventures. Another thing that is often lost during addiction is trust. Unfortunately, rebuilding trust after addiction can be difficult.

For many individuals, rebuilding trust after addiction is important. During active addiction, many behaviors can contribute to a loss of trust. Often, the addicted individual will lie, steal, or destroy trust in many other ways. In many cases, the addiction itself is a breach of trust.

Once in recovery, you may realize that it is necessary to rebuild trust with your loved ones due to your behavior whilst in the throws of addiction. Trust is not an easy thing to earn back once it is lost. This is why we have put together some ways for you to reconnect with those closest to you. With time, patience, and effort, rebuilding trust after addiction is something that anyone can accomplish.

A strong recovery requires a few different things. These include resolving emotional issues, creating a healthy lifestyle, and—in many cases—rebuilding trust after addiction. Humans are social creatures. This is obvious when you consider how we socialize and the many ways we find to socialize: family events, social media, and holidays.

When recovering from addiction, healthy socialization and the development of a network of support are essential. This can be the difference between having someone to turn to when recovery feels difficult or turning back to drugs to cope. Many people also find that feelings of loneliness are not helpful when recovering and may cause a relapse.

Often, people think that self-care and health are solely linked to emotional health. However, your emotional and psychological health also play a huge role in your recovery. The emotional benefits of connecting with loved ones can help support your recovery and keep you from returning to drugs or alcohol.

Facing the people in your life whom you have lost the trust is not easy. You may find that this is a difficult task to accomplish without guidance. If you are struggling to rebuild trust after addiction, here are a few things that can make the process easier:

• Make a plan: Without a clear plan, it can be difficult to know where to start. Outlining how you have broken trust and ways to earn that trust back can make the process of rebuilding trust after addiction clearer. While in an addiction treatment program, working with a counselor to build a plan can help you identify how to approach rebuilding trust.
• Be honest and transparent: One of the most important things you can do is be honest about your thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you make a mistake or made one in the past, own up to it and apologize.
• Practice patience: Relationships will not be mended within a day. It may take time to regain the trust of your loved ones. Patience will be key during this time as the process of rebuilding trust may take some time.
• Make amends: Making amends goes beyond simply apologizing. For example, you may need to replace something you stole or pay a person back. Making amends is an expression of sincere remorse and can be more impactful than just saying sorry.
• Be and remain honest: After you have started to rebuild trust, you will have to be consistent. You can easily lose trust again if you revert to old habits like lying. People often are not as forgiving the second time, so staying honest will be essential.

Personal relationships are not the only areas in your life where you may need to rebuild trust. You may also need to rebuild trust at work. Some employers may even be understanding and willing to give you a chance to prove that you are dedicated to improving. 

A few ways to rebuild trust at work include the following:

• Showing up on time
• Completing work-related tasks on time
• Avoiding calling out unless necessary
• Communicate with your boss or supervisor about your progress if you feel comfortable or safe doing so
• When you commit to a task, complete it
• Get involved in company outings, if possible

Many people with addiction problems lose their jobs due to their diseases. If you have gone through treatment and are now looking for employment, it is important to be honest about your addiction and recovery with potential employers. By letting them know about your struggles ahead of time, you can make room for understanding when you need.

At Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment for individuals in West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley. Our addiction treatment programs can provide you with the tools you need to overcome addiction so you can get back to living your life to the fullest.

In our programs, we offer resources through counseling, therapy, and other treatment modalities. With the help of our expert staff, you can start rebuilding trust after addiction.

To learn more about the programs we offer, contact us today. We can help determine which program will work best for you and your needs. Take this first step toward finding harmony in your life. Don’t wait.