Addiction is a disease. That does not mean that a person is weak or self-centered. If you’re thinking about dating a recovering addict, make sure you will support them before you commit.

Addiction is rooted in loneliness. Addicts may lose the love and support of their friends, even their family. They may even lose confidence in themselves.

But this is the reason why Granite Mountain provides helpful resources to help provide access to treatment for those who need it. We were created as a result of a group effort to improve the standard treatment experience. For people who come to you for help, our staff is a model of recovery, as a result, this is a duty that we take very seriously.

When Should a Recovering Addict Start Dating?

The first few months of addiction recovery are the most difficult. This is a period of big changes due to drug cravings, insomnia, and dealing with emotions. That’s why dating someone in recovery it’s a very challenging thing.

One of the most difficult aspects is actually to learn to feel emotions again, and this includes the positive feelings of love.

We at Granite Mountain will provide to you or your loved one’s different ways to heal as family therapy or group therapy. This helps them to be more confident so they can start the process of healing quicker. If they begin dating too soon, they will choose someone who is emotionally less mature than they are.

The Risks Of Dating Too Soon in the Recovery Process

Recovering individuals learn to shut down their emotions or fall in love at the first opportunity. Dating a recovering addict needs a lot of patience.

Of course, you will always be more successful in a relationship with anyone if you know yourself well. Appreciate yourself and as a consequence, you will put your health and emotional well-being ahead of everything else. In this way, you can help your partner too.

Because our team is well aware of the various issues that patients may face, they address them through our programs. From intensive outpatient (IOP) to residential treatment, there are many options for treatment to ensure that people get the proper care.

The Risk of Choosing Unhealthy Partners

People tend to prefer partners who share their emotional maturity level. People in early recovery tend to choose the same type of partner they would have chosen if they were still using drugs.

This person, like the recovering person, may be abusive or show codependent patterns in the beginning. Women in early recovery frequently choose abusive men because it provides a feeling of safety. This control can quickly become controlling or abusive. It’s never a good idea to dive headfirst into a new relationship, but it’s especially when dating someone in recovery.

As women gain confidence and emotional health in recovery, their self-esteem and confidence improve and they begin to like themselves. This can lead to selecting healthy partners and practicing healthy habits. Dating a recovering addict can support their recovery, but it’s necessary to gather information and evaluate readiness in advance.

Replacing Drug Addiction With a Relationship

Recovery is difficult work that necessitates a full-time commitment. Returning to normal, daily life can be terrifying. When people stop using substances and immediately begin dating, they run the risk of seeking comfort in relationships rather than substance use.

In the early stage of recovering, a replacement of love addiction may become a concern. Individuals at risk of this relapse back into alcohol or drug addiction, if they’re not permitted to have a relationship during their first year of the treatment are (in most cases).

Other common pitfalls of dating a person recovering from addiction in the early phase include:

• Pressuring someone to enter into a relationship
• Becoming desperate, believing that they cannot live without the other person
• Waiting to be “rescued” from their own habits or consequences of their addiction
• Trying to “fix” the other person
• Opening up too much too soon, or not expressing any vulnerability at all

How To Begin A Healthy Relationship in Recovery

Don’t Be Afraid To Question Yourself

Before dating someone recovering from addiction, evaluate yourself and what you can and cannot handle. Ask yourself questions like:

• Do you have the courage to date in recovery?
• Is your way of life suitable to dating someone in recovery?
• Do you have the maturity to date someone in recovery?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should think about starting a relationship with someone in recovery.

Love isn’t enough to keep a relationship together when one person is in recovery from addiction. As a result, no matter how you feel, if you realize this isn’t an environment you can handle, leave. It will be the best option for both you and the recovering person. If someone is in individual therapy, they may be more prepared over time. But this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

At Granite Mountain, we have decided to keep our community small. We place a high value on ensuring that each individual receives fully tailored care. Our employees are hand-picked for their experience, training, and dedication to our patients. We have everything that you or your loved one needs to begin their journey to recovery.

Inform Yourself About How Addiction Works

Finding out that the person you’re dating is an addict (recovering or otherwise) can be difficult for some people to understand. It’s probably not a good idea to date a recovering addict who hasn’t been sober for at least a year. Recovery is a very long process, and dating in recovery can make it even harder.

To understand drug addiction, go to your local health services office, a library, or search the internet for accurate information. Consider if you wish to attend support groups for families and friends of addicts in recovery. Attending these meetings can help you find helpful advice and support from others in similar situations. You can also learn more about addiction treatment and all that it entails.

Prioritize Your Partner’s Recovery

We understand that you can be afraid of dating someone in recovery, but it’s critical to keep a healthy perspective.

Keep your partner in mind when scheduling mutual activities. For example, if they are still in the early stages of recovery, avoid places where drugs or alcohol are commonly found. Instead of going to a party or a bar, try planning an outdoor activity or a special event. People early in recovery are fragile, and are still figuring out what recovery means to them.

Don’t Use Substances Around Your Partner

Not using substances around your partner is part of putting their recovery first. This is especially true if the substance in question is one to which your partner is addicted.

If you are dating a recovering alcoholic, for example, you should not consume amounts of alcohol in front of them therefore. Try to find fun activities that don’t involve alcohol, and be mindful of how you talk about alcohol in front of them and others.

Don’t Jump To Conclusions

When dating a recovering addict, it’s natural to worry about them relapsing back into use. But it’s important to be careful. Just because they are late meeting you or do not answer the phone does not imply that they are high. Worrying or being anxious about the possibility of relapse will only strain trust. This can be a sure way to ruin the relationship before it even starts.

Set Some Ground Rules

When you begin dating a recovering addict, you must establish some ground rules for your relationship. For example:

• Is it okay with your partner if you go to some bar or a party without them?
• Do you have to make any changes to your lifestyle to support their recovery?
• What are you going to do if a certain setting makes your partner feel uncomfortable?

Practice Self-Care

When you’re dating a recovering addict, it’s easy to lose track of your own needs. But it’s important to not do this. This can be harmful to both you and your partner’s health over the long run.

Dating a recovering addict means that you have to be a partner, not a parent or caretaker who will do everything for them as they work through the process. In recovery, men and women learn a lot about not only remaining sober but also how to live a happy, fulfilling life. People in recovery don’t need to be looked after; they’re learning to take care of themselves. Recovery requires understanding and a lot of will to continue. Investing in self-care and being a steady presence in a person’s life can be more helpful to them than anything.

At Granite Mountain, We Help Couples Navigate Recovery.

Dating someone in recovery, like any other relationship, will require some adjustments and compromises. You’ll have your ups and downs, just like any other relationship. But dating someone in recovery can give you a whole new perspective on life that you might not have seen otherwise if you weren’t prepared to open up and take a chance.

We at Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare believe in treatment. of the whole person. Our purpose is to help people start from scratch and build fulfilling lives without substance use — a healthy relationship can help make that happen. What sets us apart is our commitment to developing solutions to foster healing from addiction, fostering a community of true connection between our community members.

Schedule a tour of our facilities to experience for yourself what makes Granite Mountain so special. Please contact us today to learn how we can help you to rebuild your life.