Forgiveness In Recovery: How To Ask For Forgiveness
The journey toward long-term recovery after substance addiction can be difficult. Recovery from drug use is not just about quitting the use of a substance and staying sober. It also involves mending broken relationships, asking for forgiveness, and making amends. Many struggle with forgiveness in recovery, sometimes one’s actions during active addiction can be unforgivable.
People who are in recovery may not find it easy to apologize because they feel embarrassed about the things they did while they were still under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Before asking for forgiveness, people may feel fear, grief, and guilt, sometimes all at the same time. If they do not acknowledge and deal with such feelings during the recovery period, it might create anxiety, which could lead to relapse. However, gaining closure on your mistakes during active addiction is vital to a successful recovery. Continuing to live with shame or guilt, or not making amends with loved ones can weigh heavy on someone in recovery. Forgiveness in recovery can also mean the addict learning to forgive his or herself.
The Importance of Aftercare Treatment
This is one of the reasons why aftercare programs are very important. Even after medical interventions and therapy sessions at rehab centers, aftercare programs offer continuing therapies and counseling sessions to support the recovery process. The aftercare process asks clients to examine how they feel and helps them develop the next steps they should take in their recovery.
Meanwhile, forgiving a person in recovery can be as difficult as asking for forgiveness. Forgiving a person who wronged you, especially if this person is your loved one, is not easy. A loved one is someone whom you care for and trust. If this trust is broken, it might seem impossible to forgive a loved one who has hurt you. It is important to show the person who wronged you that you are willing to move forward as long as they stay sober and on the right track. There are support groups for loved ones of addicts that meet regularly to discuss who their loved one’s addiction has affected them. In these groups people talk about forgiveness in recovery, developing trust and many other important topics. You can find many support groups for loved one’s of addicts and even more online forums.
Finding Peace in Asking for Forgiveness
But, asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness, no matter how difficult it is or no matter how long it takes, can be life-changing. Forgiveness helps recovering addicts and eases the burdens of loved ones. Forgiveness and grief counseling in recovery is also often discussed in 12 step meetings. There are local 12 step groups in your community where you can meet with others who have been in your shoes. You can learn and discuss forgiveness in recovery, forgiving yourself and the best way to show others you are sorry. Support groups are a great place to learn about life after addiction and making amends.
In asking for forgiveness, it is important for the person in recovery to show remorse over his or her previous actions. People in recovery may find it difficult to admit that they have done something wrong because they are trying to protect their egos. But, without the admission of guilt, progress can be difficult and can create more barriers between people and the people they have wronged.
Once your loved one is open to talking to you, you can ask for forgiveness without making excuses for the things you did. Asking for forgiveness is easy for some, but showing that we are sincere about changing our old ways and becoming better people may require more discipline and commitment. Before people in recovery ask for forgiveness, they need to continue their treatments, such as taking necessary medications and participating in various therapies that can help them treat their addiction.
How to Ask for Forgiveness in Recovery
If people in recovery are serious about becoming sober, there is a good chance that their minds will clear and their mental and emotional state will once again be in sync. Their commitment to recovery can show their loved ones that they are once again capable of thinking logically and behaving normally. Bringing up a conversation about the past can be difficult, but if your loved ones see how you are succeeding in staying sober, building trust can be easier. While it might take a long time for others to forgive you, showing that we are sorry through our actions is the best way forward.
Meanwhile, the people you have hurt may not accept your apologies right away, or ever. This is okay. Forgiveness is not easy, and it may take time. Before we accept an apology from a person who wronged us, we could examine what we could do to help others and to help ourselves. Once we make amends, we may be able to free ourselves of pain and commit to becoming better people to avoid similar incidents.
