Boundaries are a critical part of living a healthy, happy life. Unfortunately, many people do not realize how important boundaries are until they are crossed. When it comes to maintaining your sobriety, boundaries are critical. In this article, you’ll learn more about the importance of boundaries in maintaining sobriety, and how you can set and keep boundaries in your own life.
At East Coast Recovery Center, we are a premier recovery center in Massachusetts that helps patients overcome addiction and achieve long-lasting sobriety. Each patient’s recovery journey is unique. That’s why we provide a wide variety of addiction treatment options to ensure you receive the best possible care to lead a healthier, happier quality of life. Ready to begin your recovery journey? Contact us today!
How to Set and Communicate Your Boundaries
Before learning about the importance of boundaries in maintaining sobriety, it’s critical to understand what your boundaries are, and how to set and communicate them with others. First, it’s critical to understand that boundaries are not a request, but a requirement for how you live your life and how others interact with you.
Unfortunately, many people feel like their boundaries are being tested or pushed for a variety of reasons. This can range from being surrounded by a person or people who simply do not respect your boundaries. Or, this can also look like you not establishing and communicating your boundaries clearly to others.
This is why it’s critical to first reflect and establish what your personal boundaries are, and then clearly set and communicate those boundaries with others in your life. For example, if you are a recovering alcoholic who sets a boundary that you will no longer go to bars, and you are invited to go to a bar with friends, it’s important to set and communicate to your friends that you no longer drink and do not go to bars. It’s also important to note that you do not have to explain your boundaries to others if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
4 Reasons Boundaries are Essential in Sobriety
Boundaries are essential to help support your recovery journey. Without healthy boundaries, this can constantly put you in certain situations that can increase your risk of relapsing.
Reduce the Risk of Falling for Triggers
As mentioned above, a lack of boundaries can increase your risk of falling for triggers. Therefore, it’s critical to set and keep clear boundaries to reduce your risk of falling for unhealthy cravings or triggers.
Protect Your Mental Health and Well-Being
Boundaries also help protect your mental health and well-being so you do not feel like you are being tested constantly, which can potentially jeopardize your sobriety.
Establish Healthy Relationships with Others
Next, boundaries also help establish healthy relationships with others by letting people know your boundaries upfront. This ensures people uphold your boundaries, and if an individual does not uphold your boundary or disregards it, this indicates to you that this individual likely does not respect you or your well-being.
Help Maintain Long-Lasting Sobriety
Last but not least, boundaries help maintain long-lasting sobriety. This is because setting boundaries that protect your sobriety keeps you from interacting with certain people, places, or situations that can increase your risk of relapse. Unfortunately, 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders relapse, this is why it’s critical to set boundaries to reduce your risk of relapse.Â
Help Is Available
As you can see, there is a significant importance of boundaries in maintaining sobriety. Boundaries help reduce your risk of relapse by eliminating the risk of being exposed to triggering people, places, or experiences. It’s important to not only understand your own boundaries but set and communicate your boundaries with others to protect your sobriety.
At East Coast Recovery Center, we are here to help patients overcome their addiction so they can take back control of their health and quality of life. Gone are the days of suffering in silence with your addiction. Our compassionate team is here to help guide you along your recovery journey so you can receive the personalized treatment you need to effectively break free from your addiction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your recovery needs.
