Effective Communication Skills in Rebuilding Relationships
Having good communication skills is essential to all areas of life, from professional connections to personal relationships. But substance abuse and mental health issues can greatly impede good relationships, causing strife, arguments, hurt, and mistrust. Good communication skills in rebuilding relationships are essential.
Repairing Communication Breakdowns
When you struggle with substance abuse, it can significantly interfere with your communication skills in a relationship. Not only does being under the influence of drugs and alcohol interfere with your ability to properly communicate or understand what someone else is saying, but secondary symptoms can too, such as:
- Improper sleep
- Distractions
- Anger
- Depression
- Poor self-image
- Illness
We generally assume that our ideas and thoughts are very clear, so sometimes, we don’t explain things well to other people because everything makes sense in our minds. Unfortunately, other people aren’t living in our minds as well. This can contribute to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns. It can also result in feelings of frustration or anger.
Tip: It’s important to accept that people won’t always understand what it is you are trying to say or the way you are saying it. Look for signs that they didn’t quite understand and find ways to clarify in a different way instead of getting angry.
Saying “No” Clearly
During recovery, you might feel conflicted about several activities, whether they are small things like going for a walk with a family member or big things like adding another support group to your schedule.
Sometimes, you might say “yes” to something when really you were thinking “no,” and then you cancel at the last minute. Everyone likes to be liked and to be seen as social and engaging. But putting yourself in a situation you didn’t want to be in can lead to resentment toward yourself or toward others.
Tip: Learn that you have the right to say “no” if you don’t want to do something or go somewhere or if something might be a potential trigger for you. Try to develop a personal style with which you are most comfortable turning people down. Practice with a predetermined script that you’ve thought about ahead of time to make yourself more comfortable turning people down.
Rebuilding Relationships
Good communication skills in rebuilding relationships can help you take responsibility for some of the disagreements or problems you’ve had with those closest to you.
We often mistakenly believe that those who love us will never get hurt, angry, selfish, or do things that we don’t like, or vice versa.
Whether or not there are issues with substance abuse, all healthy relationships will face problems and conflict, but repairing your relationships with good communication is what makes relationships truly happy.
Tips: Learn to be mindful and take responsibility for your mistakes. Saying “I’m sorry” or “Please forgive me” can go a long way in your recovery.
Learning Communication Skills to Help Rebuild Relationships with Ritual Recovery
At our trusted drug rehab in North Carolina, we provide communication skills for rebuilding relationships, starting with your individual therapy sessions where you can work on building a relationship with your therapist.
Overcoming Breakdowns
Clients are given the opportunity to work together in group therapy sessions and support groups where they might be asked to list communication challenges they have encountered, identify bad communication habits, and list the ways in which they know they are genuinely communicating with another person.
Saying “No” Clearly
At our outpatient drug rehab in Asheville, clients can start communication exercises in group sessions where they work together to improve listening habits, generate lists of good listening habits, and lead discussions with different people who might have conflicting interests or ideas. All of these opportunities give clients a chance to learn how to say “no” in a clear fashion or to continue listening even if they disagree with what the other person is saying.
Repairing Your Relationships
When you come to Ritual Recovery, you’ll work on communication skills for rebuilding relationships by making lists of the people you might have caused harm to directly or indirectly and figuring out how you can admit your part in that and make repairs.If you are ready to learn communication skills for rebuilding relationships while in substance abuse treatment in North Carolina, our team is here to help. Reach out to Ritual Recovery today to learn more.
