Have you recently finished a treatment program? If so, did you find yourself cutting out toxic people upon leaving treatment and reentering your life? Chances are the answer is yes. However, if you have not evaluated the health of some of your relationships, you may want to consider it. We often discuss the changes that will accompany life post-treatment. Cutting toxic people out of your life is one of those important changes.
At the peak of drug or alcohol use, people often leave friends and family to spend time with people who share their interest in substance use. Getting back to daily life after a treatment program may be difficult because you must cut out toxic people to protect your sobriety. Doing so may feel wrong, lonely, or disloyal, but it is vital, especially to get over that first hump of early recovery.
Often, "toxic people" refers to friends or partners you used to use or drink with. Being around people like this can tempt you unnecessarily and harm your recovery. However, other kinds of people can be similarly toxic. Toxic individuals may include people like these:
Any one of these types of people can threaten your sobriety and mental health. Unfortunately, they can also be challenging to cut out. It is, nevertheless, vital that you learn to do so. Fortunately, we can offer you a few tips and tricks for cutting out or handling these people from your life after leaving treatment.
In recognizing and cutting out people whose actions are harmful to your sobriety, there may be instances where you must deal closely with these people. Start these interactions by setting boundaries, then discuss the future of the relationship and why you may need to end it. If they are unwilling to understand where you're coming from or work on themselves, it's time to cut them out.
You can cut someone toxic out of your life by:
Unfortunately, when it comes to substance use disorder (SUD), avoiding toxicity is not only beneficial for your mental health; it is invaluable to your long-term recovery.
Dealing with manipulators, liars, gaslighters, or any other type of toxic person can severely threaten your sobriety. Their dishonesty, mind games, and manipulations can cause you to question yourself and your recovery and trigger you to return to substances. These toxic relationships may also cause unnecessary distress that intensifies co-occurring disorders and hails the same result — an increased risk of relapse.
Unfortunately, some people may exhibit toxic behaviors without even realizing it. This is when you can have honest conversations with them about their concerns. They might accept your feedback and begin working on themselves. However, if they don't, cutting ties with these individuals is vital if you hope to stay sober.
Cutting people off may initially seem cold, and it will never be easy to say goodbye to friends or loved ones who continue to engage in substance use or who display other toxic traits. Call NorthStar Transitions for support in cutting out toxic people in recovery today.
Cutting out toxic people from your life post-treatment is a challenging but necessary part of recovery. Especially during early sobriety, the slightest trigger can increase your risk of relapse and worsen co-occurring disorder symptoms. Unfortunately, people and their behaviors can be major triggers. Toxic friends, relatives, or partners can cause you to second-guess yourself and your recovery, triggering you to drink alcohol or use drugs. The same goes for people who still actively engage in substance use. While it is not their fault, a decision to continue substance use can be harmful and lead to an overall increased risk of relapse. To learn more about cutting out toxic people in your life post-treatment, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.