Staying Sober Through the Challenges of a Divorce or Breakup

Relationship breakdowns are a common cause of emotional trauma. Going through a breakup can be psychologically and emotionally challenging at any time, but it’s particularly tough during addiction treatment and recovery.

Having access to professional care plays a pivotal role in helping individuals cope and maintain sobriety. Jackson House Recovery Centers provides specialist resources, support, and guidance, enabling individuals to navigate the difficulties of relationship breakdowns while staying sober.

The following guide highlights positive steps to encourage sobriety during a divorce or breakup.

Acknowledge Your Pain and Grief

The first step to coping with the end of a relationship is to accept your pain and grief.

Acknowledging your emotions

The breakdown of a relationship can take its toll on every aspect of your health. It’s okay to admit that you’re struggling with emotional pain or experiencing feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, or loss.

Allowing yourself to feel pain and grief

It’s important to allow yourself to feel emotions that come naturally and instinctively. Suppressing or ignoring them can cause problems in the short and long term, elevating the risk of relapse.

Regularly Connect with Supportive People

Having a support system is invaluable when going through any life challenges, particularly during addiction recovery. Positive steps include:

Leaning on your inner circle

Leaning on family members, friends, and others in your support system is hugely beneficial. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, reach out and connect with others, and let people in. Whether you need company, guidance, or somebody to listen to you, having others around you can make a big difference.

Joining a support group

In-person and virtual support groups can be extremely helpful when you’re going through a breakup during recovery. You may find it easier to open up to those in a support group than to friends and relatives.

Getting additional support from therapists and counselors

Therapists and counselors are trained to listen and provide support and guidance. If you need extra help, don’t hesitate to get additional support.

Distract Yourself with Healthy Outlets

Distracting yourself from the stress and pain of a breakup can help you deal with negative emotions and focus on the positives in your life. Examples of healthy outlets include:

Regular exercise
Creative activities
Spending time outdoors
Hobbies and Interests
Socializing with people who lift and support you
Embracing self-care
Practicing mindfulness
Focusing on nourishing your mental and physical health and well-being

Devoting as much time and energy as possible to healthy habits and practices, hobbies, passions, and interests can help you occupy your mind, protect and boost your mental and physical well-being, and prevent unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Focus on Personal Growth

It may be easy to dwell on the negatives when going through a divorce or a relationship breakdown, but it’s helpful to find a silver lining. The transition period can be a time for personal growth, development, and exploration. Try to use this time to reconnect with yourself, heal emotionally, and identify personal goals. Concentrate on the present rather than the past, and think about what you want to achieve moving forward.

It can take time to get to a point where you see a future without a partner, especially if you were in a lengthy relationship, but investing time and effort in personal growth can help you take steps in the right direction.

Set New Boundaries

When dealing with a breakup while you’re in recovery, it’s important to protect and shield yourself to maximize the impact of treatment and increase the chances of maintaining sobriety in the long term. For many, going through a breakup involves communicating or spending time with an ex-partner, even if they don’t want to. In recovery, it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries to protect your mental health, lower the risk of relapse, and help yourself stay sober.

Communicating effectively is beneficial, but if the relationship has broken down to a point where interactions are heated or you’ve become anxious or fearful, it may be best to cut ties while you’re in recovery. Arguments, disagreements, and messages or calls that leave you feeling upset, sad, or angry can trigger stress, leaving you vulnerable.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

Relationships are part of our personal story and history. For many, specific people, places, activities, or situations trigger strong reactions. Even hearing a song or going past a certain place can bring memories or cause a surge of emotion. To help you cope, move forward, and lower the risks of relapse, identify and avoid triggers.

Where possible, it’s best to avoid or limit exposure to anything that triggers negative responses or overwhelming emotions. Triggers may range from people and places to hobbies. If you know what leads to you feeling upset, angry, or inconsolable, taking steps to avoid such triggers can help you manage your emotions, protect your mental health, and stay sober.

Find Alternatives and Build a New Routine

Breakups can often open new doors once a door has shut. Avoiding certain places, people, and activities is one way to cope, but it’s also beneficial to find alternatives. Find new places to visit, new activities and hobbies to try, and new people with whom to socialize. Finding alternatives can be an important part of promoting and embracing recovery.

Additionally, establishing a routine that champions wellness, shields your mental health, and delivers consistency can benefit you during recovery. Personalize your routine to cater to your needs and preferences, and stick with it.

Seek Professional Help for Addiction Treatment

If the emotional weight of navigating a divorce or breakup during addiction recovery becomes too heavy, know that support is available. Jackson House is an addiction treatment center that specializes in customized, professional treatment, care, and support. Offering a wide range of programs and services, Jackson House works with individuals and their loved ones to achieve lasting results. Examples of programs include:

Residential treatment
Partial hospitalization
Intensive outpatient treatment
Sober residences

Residential Addiction Treatment in San Diego

Staying sober is challenging at any time, but it can be particularly difficult during addiction treatment and recovery. Jackson House Recovery Centers is here to help. Providing personalized support, guidance, and treatment, the experienced team helps individuals navigate hurdles and overcome obstacles to stay sober.

If you’re looking for residential addiction treatment in San Diego, contact Jackson House Recovery Centers today.

08 Jan 2025