In substance abuse recovery, you’ll encounter various obstacles to overcome. One of these is coming to terms with the fact that some people in your life might not want you to succeed in sobriety. While they don’t necessarily wish you ill, their behavior may sabotage your progress. It’s crucial to develop a strategy for dealing with people who come between you and your goals.

Why Would Anyone Sabotage Your Recovery?

One group of family members who may try to get in the way of your recovery are those who still regularly use and abuse substances. To these people, your newfound sobriety represents a threat by forcing them to confront their lifestyle choices. Remember, active addiction can cause a state of denial, so the idea of taking a different path creates cognitive dissonance. Your family members may also resist your recovery because they are caught up in a cycle of codependency. In other words, they are so accustomed to taking care of you that they feel hurt and confused by your desire to make a positive change. There can also be resentment from family members because your decision to get healthy can shake up well-known patterns. Despite how fraught your relationship may have become when you were in active addiction, it’s human nature to find comfort in the familiar.

Tips for Dealing With People Who Want to Sabotage Your Recovery

If you suspect someone in your life is deliberately or unconsciously working against you, it’s crucial to tread carefully around them. You don’t have to cut them out of your life – unless that proves to be the best decision for your health and happiness – but you’ll need to limit your contact with them, at least until you are stable enough to be around toxic people. Here’s some additional advice for handling family members who are undermining your sobriety.

• Avoid spending time with people who encourage you to start drinking or using again.
• If someone in your life represents a relapse stressor through their words or deeds, politely excuse yourself and move on.
• If you’re planning to attend a family occasion where others will be drinking, it’s best to have an exit plan or bring your sponsor for support.
• Steer clear of anyone who is skeptical of your newfound sobriety or who doesn’t seem to have your best interests at heart.
• Understand that it is going to take a bit of time for your family to adjust to your new outlook on life. Be patient and keep taking things one step at a time on your recovery journey.
• Keep sobriety as your top priority and never give up on your goals, no matter how challenging they might feel.

Where to Go If You Feel Threatened in Recovery

If your family is sabotaging your recovery, you might benefit from immersing yourself in an environment where you can focus fully on your health and happiness. At Segue Recovery Support, we provide sober housing that gives you a distraction-free place to continue making positive progress. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.