The saying “communication is key” shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to remember that addiction affects the person struggling and their direct family and friends. You may have realized while you were at the peak of your addiction that you might have detached from the people that care about you the most. This can be a hard realization to come to, but this is why learning practical communication skills during treatment can help you make amends with your loved ones.
Learning and understanding effective communication skills is key for personal growth during your addiction treatment at West Coast Recovery Centers. In this article, we are going to explore the different types of communication and how this can help you during your treatment.
The Importance of Trust
One of the most critical factors in any relationship is trust, as it’s nearly impossible to have a genuine relationship with someone that you do not trust.
This trust you may have had with your loved ones could have been broken because of the addiction. Unfortunately, in most cases, there can be a lot of lying, stealing, and cheating associated with someone struggling with addiction. You may have caused your family members pain during this time, so it is vital to learn the best way to regain their trust and forgiveness.
First, start building back that trust with your family members through active listening; this means listening to understand, not listening to respond. Nobody wants to hear about their flaws or how they might have hurt someone else. However, active listening involves listening to your loved ones and showing that you are engaged. This is critical for building back trust because, in the past, you may have been argumentative instead of listening to their concerns. This new behavior will show them the progress you are making.
Take Accountability and Apologize
Once you have taken the time fully listen to your loved ones and friends, then you can begin to take accountability for the mistakes you might have made. Taking accountability for your mistakes can show personal growth and help improve your relationships inside and outside of recovery.
Now that you understand what you may have done wrong during this time, you can begin the process of apologizing. This is a process that is hard for some individuals because it involves empathy and admitting that you made mistakes. You must feel raw emotions and empathy in order for you to see how your actions may have impacted your loved ones.
This also goes beyond just a simple apology, so it’s important for it to be a sincere apology showing that you care and genuinely want forgiveness. This can include fully describing in your apology what you are apologizing for and showing that you understand how you made them feel. During your apology, you can also explain to your loved ones the specific ways you are improving and making positive changes in your life.
Be Aware of Your Feelings
During your recovery, it can be hard to constantly hear about mistakes you made or the ways you might have hurt others. It’s essential to stay aware of the emotions you are feeling during these moments and keep them at bay. It can be easier to express your emotions through anger; however, this won’t help you or your loved ones. This is crucial for healthy communication because once you learn how to become self-aware and keep your emotions at bay, you can use that energy for listening and responding calmly to your loved ones.
The Benefits of Effective Communication in Recovery
There are many benefits to learning and practicing effective communication during recovery, such as receiving forgiveness from loved ones and improving relationships with your recovery center staff. Additionally, communication skills are essential when working with an addiction recovery professional. This is because you can clearly express your needs and make sure that you receive the help you need for a successful recovery.
Don’t Forget About Self-Forgiveness
It’s common to focus solely on making amends with loved ones that you forget about also forgiving yourself for the mistakes you made. It can be hard to even convince your loved ones that you are worthy of their forgiveness if you have not yet forgiven yourself. Self-forgiveness is also vital for your success in treatment because once you forgive yourself as well, you can move past it and pour your energy into your treatment and recovery.
Ultimately, effective communication is necessary for forgiveness in recovery because it is a form of personal growth and shows your loved ones that you realize the mistakes you made along the way. A happy and healthy life needs to make amends to the people you may hurt, including yourself. These effective communications are also important life skills to take with you once you leave treatment. This way, you can continue to maintain your relationships but also for new ones along the way.
Struggling with an addiction can also be extremely scary for your loved ones. It’s important to understand the most effective ways of healthy communication and obtaining their forgiveness. You may have lost their trust, but it’s essential for them to see that you are willing to work in order to regain their trust. Expressing both empathy and genuine concern for the pain you may have caused them is one of the most critical steps in trying to gain their trust and forgiveness. Our team at West Coast Recovery Centers is here to help you and your loved ones during this challenging time. For more information, call us today at (760) 492-6509.