Addiction can be a lonely condition to endure. Even if someone dealing with substance abuse finds themselves within a community of others struggling with addiction, such bonds pale in comparison to the primary dedication each person in such a group enshrines above all others: that is, to say, their addiction itself. They each exist in isolation from one another, even while in the midst of a crowd. Only by fighting through substance abuse can the addict start to find true bonds with others.
Only by embracing vulnerability in recovery can the patient find themselves opening up to authentic connections.
Rehab is about a lot more than just weaning a subject off of drugs, after all. Detox is only a portion of the recovery process and not necessarily even the most important part. After all, while removing drugs from the patient’s system is necessary, without further treatment, there’s little to stop the patient from returning to substance abuse as soon as they return to their everyday routines.
No, the recovery process requires the patient to work through their psychological and emotional issues to learn how to reject addiction, resist cravings and find true healing from the scars of addiction and resist returning to it in the future.
As part of that process, the recovering addict needs to learn how to be vulnerable once again and create authentic connections. Living with addiction can cause a person to retreat behind mental and emotional shields, to “harden” themselves to deal with the pain of struggling with substance abuse and the isolation it imposes on them.
But such hardening and shielding makes it difficult to forge real connections with people and it’s only through true connections and relationships that a recovering addict can find support to continue to resist addiction. Yet such authenticity requires vulnerability in exchange. Friendships and familial bonds where one person is hiding much of themselves tend to be weak and fragile, prone to break apart when confronted with hardships, such as addiction. Only by opening themselves up to their loved ones can a recovering addict start to show their authentic self and forge strong bonds that can endure the rigors of recovery and provide strength in the midst of their vulnerability.
It is therefore vital that the recovering addict work on opening up to friends and family, stripping away masks and shields to expose their vulnerability and expose their true, authentic selves. Only thus can they truly reach a lasting recovery.
Good Landing Recovery can help recovering addicts learn the best ways to approach this vital step and make lasting connections during and after treatment and throughout the recovery process.
Recovery can’t be done as well alone. Without authentic connections, recovering addicts are more likely to relapse as isolation and unmet emotional needs make it harder for the patient to make the best choices for their continued recovery needs.
Give Good Landing a call today and learn how to embrace vulnerability in recovery in order to make authentic connections for a better recovery process.