Setting personal boundaries is critical to the addiction treatment process. Typically, most addicts have the nature of keeping weak boundaries. In most cases, it’s primarily because they have the wrong definition of personal boundaries.

Whether you are struggling with addiction or not, you need to have boundaries. Furthermore, the people around you need to respect those set boundaries. As against what you may think, boundaries aren’t just some set rules for your life. And since they require people’s respect, they must be reasonable and fair to everyone.

For a recovering addict, we can trace boundary problems as far back as childhood. During the recovery, personal boundaries help the patient to get a firm grip on their life. That way, they can make informed decisions and focus on healing and personal development. 

This article will answer why setting boundaries in addiction recovery is important. More importantly, we’ll show you how to set boundaries in your relationships.

What are Personal Boundaries?

Personal boundaries are guidelines that a person creates to identify proper ways for others to behave towards them and their corresponding responses. Essentially, boundaries are limits that protect one from unwanted relationships. Generally, we set boundaries based on our instinct, morals, and limits. 

However, we ought to set boundaries for every aspect of our individual lives. Here are some types of important boundaries for addiction treatment:

Physical boundaries

Everyone has a right to their personal space and privacy. The purpose of physical boundaries is to help protect these rights. Furthermore, physical boundaries determine the comfortable times for physical contact. 

Physical limits are probably the most important boundaries in the recovery process. Of course, a recovering addict won’t want everyone in their personal space. Likewise, it is essential to also regard the boundaries of other people.

Mental boundaries 

Your thoughts, opinions, and beliefs are exclusively yours. You have the liberty to share it with whoever pleases you. In the same vein, you can decide not to share it with anybody. 

Besides, you are in charge of the information and thoughts that you feed your mind. Feeding your mind with negativity has adverse effects on a recovering addict. That is why setting mental boundaries in addiction recovery is important.

Emotional boundaries

This boundary helps you establish a sense of responsibility for how you feel. Additionally, you know the exact reason why you act the way you do. Furthermore, you’re in no way responsible for the emotions of others. 

When you’re establishing boundaries for addiction treatment, you should consider emotional wellness and stability. Consequently, no one has any right to take advantage of you emotionally. Additionally, learn to walk away from relationships that aren’t advantageous to your wellbeing.

Material boundaries

Material boundaries mean putting limitations on your assets. Only you have the owners right to your possessions — and as such, you need privacy. Setting material boundaries helps you choose when people use your belongings.

For example, you can lend a friend your car; and they have no questioning rights when you choose not to. Material boundaries give protection over your possessions, property, and belongings.

Why You Need Boundaries During Addiction Treatment 

When we initiate boundaries, we are only giving expression to our opinions and personal values. Now, for someone with addiction experience, these values may be long-lost or foggy. For this reason, it is advisable to make use of addiction recovery services. That is because professionalism in boundary-setting is very crucial to the healing process.

Ordinarily, addicts never have the opportunity or reason to set limits and boundaries. As such, the art of setting boundaries is a new skill they have to learn. However, boundaries for addiction treatment help to restore self-control to the life of an ex-addict. 

Generally, people fail to understand that boundary is an act of self-development as opposed to selfishness. These boundaries are to help them take charge of their lives in all totality. Here are some of the benefits of boundaries for addiction treatment:

Focus on recovery

The primary purpose of boundaries for addiction treatment is to speed up addiction recovery.  Reducing interactions with certain people and relationships can help an ex-addict focus on healing. As a result, once your boundaries are correctly maintained, addictions become easy to forget. 

Meaningful relationships

The boundaries you set synchronize with your expectations from any relationship. As a result, each party expresses their opinions freely without affecting another person. That way, boundaries make sure that both parties in a relationship respect each other.

Emotional stability

For addiction treatment, boundaries bring about peace of mind to the patient. They also help recovering addicts acknowledge personal needs and make adequate provisions. 

Self-respect and self-responsibility

Setting boundaries while recovering brings respect from others. Furthermore, the fact that everyone respects your decisions will boost your confidence. Likewise, you’ll become comfortable with decision-making for yourself. These boundaries give you full responsibility for your life.

Self-development

Generally speaking, boundaries help you keep healthy habits. Over time, ex-addicts begin to forget their past activities and characters. So, any memory that can drag them back into addiction slowly fades off.

Related article: 8 Useful Addiction Treatment Tips For This Pandemic

Types of Boundaries to Set for Addiction Treatment.

Setting boundaries for addiction treatment may be challenging, but they’re necessary. However, there is a fine line between healthy and unhealthy boundaries. 

Healthy boundaries are problem-solvers, while unhealthy ones add to the problem. Let’s take a look at important people and situations you must set limits for.

Friends

Peer pressure is a chief contributor to any form of addiction. For a recovering addict, cutting off some friendships and defining some is necessary. In fact, to quicken the process of recovery, it’s a must. 

Family

Yes, they love you, and you love them, but there’s still a need to limit their influence. In some cases, family members may use their influence to subconsciously drag you into addiction. 

For example, if your addiction was alcohol, you don’t need any relative drinking in your presence. Nor do you need any form of blame that may affect your self-esteem.

Work and social activities

For successful addiction treatment, your boundaries should extend to work and social gatherings. It’s vital that the people around know about your boundaries and act accordingly.

Yourself and partner 

One essential part of boundary setting is convincing yourself you need it. That’ll help you maintain these rules and limits, no matter the situation. Another important person is your partner/spouse – they’re usually the most influential people to you. You may need to explain your boundaries and why they need to follow them strictly.

Tips for Effective Boundary Setting during Addiction Recovery

There is no point in setting boundaries that won’t be adequately maintained. However, if you’re going to set boundaries, it’s pertinent you do it the right way. Below, we have highlighted some tips to practice boundary setting:

• Identify your limits.
• Set concrete boundaries with yourself and others
• Communicate these boundaries.
• Spot when people break boundaries – and address them immediately.
• Avoid addictive circumstances and activities.

Conclusion

When you’re going through the process of addiction treatment, boundaries are inevitable. However, staying true to these boundaries isn’t a tea party. Sometimes, you may need external support. 

Why walk through the journey alone? When you can have professionals guide you? At Addiction Healing Centre, we can help you customize an addiction recovery plan. Call Inspire Change Addiction Rehab in Vancouver for addiction treatment programs. Our professionals will help you set healthy boundaries with no adverse effect on your life and relationships. Contact us today!