For many people, forgiveness plays an important role in addiction recovery. It fosters accountability and helps people move past guilt and shame, which may otherwise hinder the recovery process. Learning about why forgiveness matters in addiction recovery can help you make it a goal and experience the benefits. Four Seasons Detox is a top-rated California Drug Rehab Center, with programs that facilitate whole-person healing. We can help clients like you or your loved one with forgiveness, as well as other parts of your recovery journey.
What Does Forgiveness Look Like in Addiction Recovery?
First, what does forgiveness look like in addiction recovery? It can take different forms, often including:
The Role of Self-Forgiveness
First, the role of self-forgiveness in addiction recovery cannot be forgotten. It is possible to change. Most people find that substance abuse fulfilled a purpose in their lives, whether it was to numb feelings of anxiety, depression, to stay awake through long shifts at work, or for another reason. Identifying that purpose can help you extend compassion to yourself and find healthier ways to meet your needs moving forward.
Asking for Forgiveness From Others
From the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), steps eight and nine include “Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all” and “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” You may not be able to control who forgives you, but this can be, and often is, the first step toward relationship repair.
Why Forgiveness in Addiction Recovery Matters
As for why forgiveness in addiction recovery matters, here are some standout benefits you might notice. Remember that this can be a process; forgiveness may not happen overnight.
- Emotional relief: Asking for forgiveness from others and forgiving yourself can take a major weight off of your shoulders, providing emotional relief that aids the recovery process.
- Healing interpersonal relationships: Substance abuse can have a negative impact on trust and other parts of your relationships with other people. In addiction recovery, rebuilding interpersonal relationships (such as family relationships and romantic partnerships) is a common goal. Forgiveness, time, and collaborative work are often important parts of the process.
- Moving on from the past: Many people find that forgiveness helps them move on from the past. During your addiction, you may have made actions you regret and would not make today; forgiving yourself and working to make the choices you want to, day by day, matters in recovery.
- Personal growth and confidence: Seeking forgiveness from others and forgiving yourself often brings people closer to who they want to be. It requires humility and self-awareness, both of which are positive traits. This can inspire feelings of personal growth, confidence, and self-esteem in individuals recovering from addiction.
Shame does not need to hold you back. Addiction treatment can help you work through feelings of shame, rebuild relationships with other people, build a strong support system moving forward, and become who you want to be.
Four Seasons Detox Can Help
Four Seasons Detox can help you with forgiveness in addiction recovery. Our programs, which include but are not limited to the following, are thorough, addressing addiction and underlying causes from a whole-person perspective.
Luxury Detox in Ventura County
We provide luxury detox in Ventura County, which will help you or your loved one get through the acute withdrawal process when they first enter treatment. Most incoming clients require detox for about 1-2 weeks.
Inpatient Drug Rehab in Ventura County
Our inpatient drug rehab program in Ventura County provides intensive, evidence-based therapy combined with a comprehensive set of additional treatments and lifestyle practices that support physical and mental health. This program includes individual, group, and family therapy sessions (if possible), as well as recreation and other activities. During these sessions, you may cover topics such as forgiveness, communication skills, boundaries, and self-care, all of which can be highly beneficial during the recovery process.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Ventura County
Trauma disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions are common co-occurring concerns for people overcoming substance abuse. We provide dual-diagnosis treatment in Ventura County, which addresses addiction and co-occurring disorders simultaneously.
Call Four Seasons Detox for Top-Rated Addiction Recovery Programs
Four Seasons Detox is a Premier California drug and alcohol rehab center. We are here to give you the guidance needed to achieve and sustain long-term recovery, which can include working through concerns like forgiveness. Call Four Seasons Detox for top-rated addiction recovery programs today at (805) 991-5111.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Why Forgiveness in Addiction Recovery Matters
How does therapy support forgiveness in addiction recovery?
Forgiveness is not always easy. A therapist can help you process what happened with the person you want to forgive, whether it’s yourself or someone else, and what you want the process of forgiveness to look like. For example, you might discuss what you want to say to another person and how to navigate potential challenges that might arise during that conversation.
Can role-playing in therapy aid forgiveness?
Yes. Role-playing is a common therapy technique. When you role-play with a therapist, you might act out what you would say to someone else when asking for forgiveness or when forgiving them. Often, your therapist will pretend to be the other person as you role-play the conversation, which can help you prepare for a real discussion with someone in your life.
Can the empty chair technique help with forgiveness?
Yes. The empty chair technique is similar to role-playing in the sense that it gives you an opportunity to practice having a conversation. It’s also a way for people to let things out or express themselves, even if they never intend to have that conversation in reality. If you are using the empty chair technique to support forgiveness in addiction recovery, you might pretend to speak to someone while facing an empty chair instead of role-playing with your therapist.
Does forgiving someone mean that you have to have a relationship with them?
No. Although you will always have a relationship with yourself, when it comes to other people, you don’t necessarily have to have a current relationship with someone to forgive them. In some circumstances, forgiving a person from a distance can help you let go of resentment, even if you never allow them back into your life. It’s about what works for you and what supports your overall health and well-being.
