Dating Someone Who’s Not in a 12-Step Program Like You Are
So you’re in a 12 step program for recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol, you’re feeling better, and now you’re ready to get back into the dating scene—but is it safe for you to consider a date who’s not also in a 12 step program? Are there risks involved with putting yourself into a relationship with someone who doesn’t share in your 12-step recovery?
Featured Rehab Center
Consider the Stress of Romance
Having a romantic relationship can be wonderful, but it can also cause a great deal of stress and heartache (even if it does work out). Therefore, it is important to know that you can handle the possibility of these feelings and not use it as an excuse to relapse or begin to feel unstable again. Once you feel that you have the kind of stability this requires, you can begin your relationship.
Consider Whether Your Chosen Date will Understand Your Recovery
Make sure your date respects your recovery efforts and that you continue with treatment.
Recovery is a delicate situation, one you’ve worked very hard towards, and one you cannot afford to lose. Before dating anyone outside of your recovery, be sure to ask yourself whether the individual will understand your recovery and your needs.
It is necessary that they are aware of what you can and cannot do. You may be comfortable going to a place together where alcohol is served but not to a bar or a place where most of the emphasis of having a good time is on drinking.
If the person you are interested in does drink, smoke, or use drugs, you may want to consider whether or not you feel comfortable with it. You are perfectly in your right as well to ask them not to do these things around you. But if the individual can understand exactly what your recovery entails and they can respect it, you have a stronger chance of making the relationship work.
Making the Decision to Date
In the end, deciding whether it’s safe for you to begin dating in recovery will be up to you. If you date responsibly and safely, stick to your meetings and your therapy, and don’t forget everything you’ve learned while in treatment, you should be fine. Be sure that the date you choose is considerate of your recovery and considered your needs first and foremost.
To talk to a counselor about dating in recovery or for assistance in finding continued 12-step support and care, call our helpline toll free at 888-646-0635Who Answers? today.
Celebrating the holidays while in rehab is a depressing prospect for some. It is important to remember that the holidays are an excellent time to become sober for both your friends and family. According the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stress can cause relapse, being alone during the holidays is a source of stress for….
Sometimes it’s not as easy as you would think to recognize the signs of teenage drug abuse but for the parent of a teenager, a firm understanding of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse is vital. If you can recognize the early signs that your teenager may be abusing drugs then you can quickly….
Free inpatient rehab centers actually do exist. Though these facilities are not as common as paid inpatient facilities, they can be found and patients in need are able to receive 24-hour care in a controlled environment which can significantly help their chances of making a successful recovery from addiction. How Many Facilities are Free? According….
People affected by dual diagnosis conditions struggle with the combined effects of addiction and one or more psychological disorders. When considered separately, both addiction and mental illness can greatly compromise a person’s ability to function in daily life. When combined, people living with dual diagnosis stand to experience the worst of what these two conditions….
When you enter rehab you will quickly learn that the foundation of all types of addiction treatment is based on counseling. Rehab centers use many different types of counseling to ensure the complete recovery of those suffering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. In most cases you will encounter some combination of the following three….
If you or a loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol then you already know how difficult it is to quit. Unfortunately, some people need more than just one reason to seek help before they actually make the call and the commitment to getting sober. If you’re one of those people who needs a….
Ignoring the signs of addiction in a loved one can cause the most harm and without the encouragement and understanding of loved ones, the addiction could take a turn for the worst. Many loved ones will ignore the signs of addiction out of shame, anger, or in incorrect understanding of addiction but with the right….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when you relapse it is not a failure. Drug addiction is a chronic disease that needs to be treated as such. Relapse is a fact of drug addiction treatment. Not all programs suit all addictions and it is very important that a program be personalized for your….
There is more than one type of rehab center, and while they all have their merits, it can help to compare them in order to find out which one is right for your needs. Make sure to ask yourself what aspects of a treatment program are most important to you before you begin, and it….
So you’re thinking about starting a drug rehab program to get the help you need to overcome an addiction to drugs – now what? You probably have lots of questions and most of all you’re probably wondering how long you will have to deal with the cravings that you feel every time you try to….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser that includes Right Path Rehab.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
