Are you in a situation where you’re facing trouble trying to help your partner recover from their addiction? We have the perfect guide to help you out in this situation. From mental health tips, support groups, to even creating a porn-free environment, we’ve got it all covered.
Help Your Spouse
Recovering from an addiction is a long and tumultuous journey. Sometimes it can even take years to fully recover. But, even a small step in the right direction counts as progress. These little victories combined all together is what results in complete recovery from any form of addiction. Be it porn addiction or any other form of substance or behavioural addiction.
It is a lie that addiction only affects the life of the addict. Once a person falls into the trap of addiction, their actions have a direct impact on the lives of the other people in their life. From friends, family, spouse, and even employers and colleagues, everyone is affected. Everyone is involved in this situation. Be it in a positive or negative way. This not only involves the period of addiction but also the recovery period.
It can be difficult to provide support to a loved one who is currently dealing with an addiction. Especially without letting it affect your own mental health. When the person dealing with addiction is a significant other, then it can be even harder. You need to figure out a balanced way in which, you can support your partner in successfully recovering from your addiction while also ensuring that you don’t lose sight of what you need to ensure you’re mentally and physically healthy and happy. Your mental health and needs are also just as important in this situation. Keeping this in mind, here are 6 ways in which you can support your partner throughout the recovery process.
Read About: 5 Apps You Must Avoid During Porn Addiction Recovery Time
6 Tips On Supporting Your Partner Through Addiction Recovery
Remember, this is a choice you can make. You don’t need to force yourself to be there for your spouse if it their condition is affecting your mental health. You can choose to be there for them through this period or take time off if you’d like. If you choose to provide support and help your partner recover, here are some tips that will help you do this in the best way possible. While ensuring you also take care of yourself along the way.
1. Accept Without Judgement
A lot of the times, addicts and even recovering addicts refuse to come out in the open about their addiction. As they’re aware of the judgment that’ll be passed. It’s especially harder when this judgment comes from close family and friends.
So as a spouse it is extremely important to make sure your partner feels loved and accepted during this process. Make your best attempt to refrain from passing any judgment or negativity. Your partner is going through a tough time as is, they do not need the extra pain and negativity. It can worsen their mental health.
2. Educate Yourself
You can only be of any help in this situation if you are fully aware of how your partner’s addiction works. If you aren’t well informed then you’ll end up doing more harm than good. This is why it is important to take some timeout of your daily routine to educate yourself on every single detail possible with respect to your spouse’s addiction. When you’re well-informed in this situation, you’re not only making the right decisions but also are ready with all the information required in case of an emergency.
A good place to start would be to learn about how addiction progresses. The various stages of it. With regard to porn addiction, educate yourself mainly about the escalation process and the never-ending urges and cravings. This way you can keep a tab on how your partner is doing and which stage of the addiction they’re in. Then you will be able to provide the support they require during that particular stage.
3. Set Boundaries
For any relationship, especially in a situation like this, ground rules are important. When boundaries are set in place, both partners are of what is acceptable in a relationship and what isn’t. This way you can maintain your mental health while also supporting your partner through their recovery.
Just because you’re choosing to help your partner recover from an addiction, doesn’t mean you become a dumping ground for all their problems. Setting boundaries protect your personal health and well-being, is more likely to help your addicted loved one, and can help ensure that you’ll be satisfied with the relationship as well.
You can discuss and come up with these boundaries together, to ensure that you’re both contents with them. Only if there is a mutual agreement. Will this arrangement work out.
4. Create A Substance-Free Environment
To speed up the recovery process, the biggest help you can provide your partner is to ensure that they get to live peacefully in a substance-free environment.
If your partner is addicted to porn then the best way to do this is to install a porn blocker on all devices and gadgets in your house. This way even if they want to give in to their urges, they won’t be able to. Small efforts like this can make a big difference in a person’s recovery and speed up the recovery process. When your partner notices the efforts you’re making it’ll only encourage them to work harder towards putting an end to this addiction once and for all.
You can install BlockerX, one of the best porn blockers available on both Android and iOS to ensure all unnecessary pornographic content is blocked from your partner’s life.
5. Encourage Joining Support Groups
Addiction is so stigmatized in our society that addicts never feel comfortable opening up or asking for help. Even if the situation gets really bad. But, thankfully we’re moving towards a more open and accepting environment for issues like these.
Today, there are a large number of support groups available. Groups like these can really be helpful throughout recovery. Seeing others going through similar situations makes one feel less lonely and more accepted. While suffering from an addiction it is important to meet other people in similar situations as it helps you get a different perspective of the same thing. This can help understand the addiction and how to beat it in a much broader and healthier night.
Support groups are available both online and offline. You can encourage your partner to join one where they feel the most comfortable. On odd days, even you can attend the support group meetings with your partner, if they’re comfortable with it. This will give you a better understanding of the addiction and what your partner is going through.
6. Be Patient And Compassionate
No denying, that this can be a tough situation for both of you. But, just for a second, put yourself in your partner’s shoes. Addiction isn’t something you can overcome in just a few days. It is a daily battle. Your partner wakes up every morning to fight the same battle again and again, until one day they finally succeed. Till then they need your support.
It’s understandable that some days will be harder than others. But that’s just how it is. But, if you’ve chosen to support your spouse in this journey, then you need you to give it all you have. Whatever help you’re capable of. Your partner can go from a successful reboot to a release in just a few hours. That’s just how addiction is. Right now, your partner requires you to be patient, empathetic, and compassionate towards them.
These are just some tips to help you through this situation. You can modify them in accordance with your partner’s situation. You know your spouse better than anyone in the world. So, use this to your advantage and help them get through this tough phase of their life.
TLDR
Addiction does not just affect the life of the person addicted. It wrecks havoc in the life of everyone who is close to the addict. Especially a spouse. These can be tough times for both of you. During this time, if you decide to stay back and help your partner get through this, you also need to take good care of your own mental health. Only if you’re fully mentally stable will you be able to help your partner. Take your time to first accept the situation at hand and come to terms with your mental state regarding it. Once you’ve accepted the situation, you can educate yourself and help your partner successfully recover from the addiction.
