How to Set Boundaries in Substance Abuse Treatment

Boundaries help us to differentiate who we are in relation to other people. They help us to understand what our responsibilities are and what others are responsible for. Boundaries are a major component to ensuring healthy relationships and personal growth. When a person is in substance-abuse treatment establishing healthy boundaries can be challenging. Even so, boundaries are extremely important when dealing with and recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk with your counselor about what boundaries are. If you are going to set good boundaries with others, you will first need to understand what they are. Your counselor may be able to give you some worksheets or reading material to help you integrate your knowledge into your recovery.

• 2

  Guard against substituting addictions. When you are becoming clean and sober, strong feelings that you have repressed will often come to the surface. This can feel overwhelming at times, and it is common to try to cover up these feelings with a new addiction, such as sex or love addiction. Be conscious of your behaviors and do not give in to any urges you may have to get involved with fellow addicts or counselors.

• 3

  Face the feelings that surface as you are in substance-abuse treatment. Instead of grabbing onto a new addiction, feel your feelings and get them out. Try starting a journal, sharing in group, or talking privately with your substance-abuse counselor. Sharing your intense feelings will be part of the 12-step process introduced to you in treatment.

• 4

  Get an accountability buddy. Some treatment centers will assign patients to one another. At other treatment centers, you may need to ask your counselor about helping you to find an accountability buddy. When you are thinking of crossing the line with another person, or about relapsing to drug and alcohol abuse, tell your accountability buddy. Together, you can come up with a prevention plan and talk with your substance-abuse counselor.

• 5

  Treat others as you want to be treated. Write down what your own boundaries are. What do others do that make you uncomfortable? What are your own responsibilities? Understanding where your own boundaries are will help you to learn respect for other people's boundaries.

• 6

  Communicate with others and ask them what their boundaries are. Boundaries may vary from person to person. One person may enjoy a warm smile and a hug as an informal greeting while another person doesn't want to be touched at all. The only way to know what someone is comfortable with is to ask him or her. During this new journey of recovery, you will find that communication with others is key and will help you to lead a happier, more fulfilling life as a sober person. Remember to take things one day at a time and focus on progress rather than perfection!