Couple’s Therapy At Our Drug Rehab​

Intro to Couple’s Drug Rehab ​

Addiction is known to have a negative impact on loved ones and families, but what if your loved one is struggling alongside you with their own addiction? This is not an uncommon occurrence. Often, couples may struggle with addiction issues at the same time. 

In this situation, their addictions likely feed off of each other. They may have a difficult relationship and use alcohol and drugs to cope with conflict, or they can have no conflict and use together. They may have even met due to their drug use and view it as an aspect of their relationship, despite the dangers. 

With all the different scenarios that could happen, one that will indeed be challenging is if one person decides to go to drug rehab while the other does not. An important component of early recovery is having your home safe, sober, and supportive. This would not be possible if you are worried about your partner’s use.  

Couples who struggle with addiction may have unhealthy relationship patterns such as codependency and enabling. These two characteristics can fuel an addiction if they continue. In a healthy recovery, the goal is to recognize these patterns and work to prevent them. 

Individuals who enable their loved ones are typically in a codependent relationship. Enabling refers more to the behavioral aspect of the relationship. This could look like paying for your loved one’s bills when they used their money on alcohol and drugs—or making excuses for why they struggle with using. Enabling means you are taking care of someone who is capable of doing so themselves. This would often mean that they would have to stop engaging in some form of negative behavior, which is usually not desirable. 

Codependency is a relationship pattern where one partner is constantly giving, and the other is taking. What this means is that the person giving is so focused on their partner that they are neglecting their own needs. This is an unhealthy relationship pattern for both individuals. Codependency can be present in relationships where both partners are struggling with addiction, and with only one struggling. 

In a codependent relationship, the person who is caretaking suffers significantly. This individual may struggle with their self-esteem and need to find things externally to make them feel good. Oftentimes they feel bad when their efforts and help go unnoticed. More often than not, this individual will have a difficult time establishing healthy boundaries. 

THE PROS OF REHAB FOR COUPLES

Benefits of a Couple’s Inpatient Drug Rehab ​

Choosing to attend an inpatient addiction treatment program in Ohio allows you to have time to focus on your own needs for a healthy recovery. For many, this begins with a detox. After your detox is complete, you will move on to the treatment program.

At Findlay Recovery Center, you will have the support of a clinical team to address and work through the struggles that you have been having. This can include mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders. 

It is often recommended that individuals in recovery do not begin any new relationships early in recovery to stay focused on their recovery. For those who are already in a committed relationship, a part of their treatment will include looking for changes that can lead to a healthier relationship.

Couples drug rehabs will give you the opportunity to identify your concerns in individual therapy without any input from your partner. You will have the opportunity to come together in couples counseling to share what you feel you need to change in the relationship. Examples of positive change could be increased communication, healthy boundaries, personal time for yourself, and working to share responsibilities.

You can identify things at home that can change to better support your recovery by working together. This could include removing paraphernalia from your home, moving furniture around, so your living spaces feel different, spending time with individuals who do not use or drink, and finding new sober activities to do together.

A couple can begin their sobriety journey at the same time, but it will have its challenges. Both partners need to focus on themselves and understand that their partner is doing the same. For couples who struggle with codependency, this may be more difficult. After completing your rehab program, you would likely be recommended to stay involved with an addiction treatment program to help check for unhealthy behaviors that you may have slipped back into.