Boundaries in Recovery: Why They Matter for Your Healing in Los Angeles?

When you are beginning your recovery from substance use in Los Angeles, many things can get in the way - like stress, unpredictable schedules, toxic relationships, easy access to substances, and more. This is why establishing and maintaining boundaries is crucial for your lasting recovery and personal growth.

Unfortunately, many who enter recovery often do not understand what boundaries are and why they mean so much in life. This is why there can be unhealthy family dynamics, codependent relationships, and other such patterns that can hinder recovery and contribute to substance use or relapse.

Boundaries in recovery are invisible physical and psychological lines you set up to strengthen and enable your recovery - to protect yourself from relapse and substance use.

Linda Whiteside, Clinical Supervisor at the NuView Treatment Center, says, “Your boundaries in recovery can be personal to you - no two persons are the same, after all. But some of the common ones are learning to say no, limiting or cutting off interactions with those who can get you to use substances again, prioritizing your self-care, and so on.”

Boundaries have a role to play in each and every stage of your recovery, which looks something like this:

• Early Stages of Recovery (Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation): In the early stages of recovery, you learn and practice how to set boundaries. It is a good foundation that will protect your recovery from internal and external triggers and will also teach you when to reach out to your therapist/counselor when you need additional support.
• Mid-Stages of Recovery (Action): In the action stages of recovery, boundaries become consistent. They allow you to prioritize yourself, maintain your sobriety, and develop healthy interpersonal relationships in your life.
• Later Stages of Recovery (Maintenance): In the later stages of recovery, boundaries allow you to sustain your hard-earned sobriety and move toward personal growth.

There are 4 types of boundaries in recovery, which are as follows:

• Internal Boundaries: Your internal boundaries are those that align your behavior with your morals and principles. So, you will avoid any behavior that goes against them. It might be difficult in the beginning, but it will be beneficial for you in the long run.
• Emotional Boundaries: You take ownership of your emotions and separate them from others' emotions or feelings. This way, you avoid getting manipulated or controlled by others. At the same time, also avoid manipulating or controlling others to get what you want.
• Physical Boundaries: The most tangible boundary; it defines your personal physical space. For instance, if someone around you is using substances, you remove yourself from that environment and draw your physical boundary.
• Time Boundaries: Time boundaries are those boundaries that allow you to make the best of your time. For instance, you set time boundaries by spending time on yourself and your recovery - whatever it takes.

Here are some tips you can use to establish boundaries in your recovery:

• Identify where and why you need boundaries. It is something that is unique to you. For instance, if you find difficulty saying “No,” then you need to identify where you will need it and the benefits of learning not to take on more than what you need to.
• Stay away from the places and people who can trigger your substance use. For instance, if there is a hangout where you have pleasant memories of substance use with your friends, avoid taking this route.
• Do not put yourself in tempting environments. For instance, if you know there is an office party where many will be drinking alcohol - avoid going there.
• Use time management strategies to plan your routine for the day. Set aside some time where you prioritize self-care with exercise, meditation, mindfulness, and other health and wellness practices.
• Learn to say no to anything that gets in the way of your recovery.
• Avoid major life changes in the first year of your recovery. For instance, do not get into a new relationship very early in your sobriety - it can be quite a change and put a lot of strain on you.
• Communicate your boundaries clearly to your family and friends - what they are and why you need them.
• Take small steps. You cannot expect great changes in a day, but every step in the right direction is a victory.
• If you break boundaries and relapse, forgive yourself and get in touch with your therapist/counselor so that you can relearn and reapply what you learned in recovery.

Linda Whiteside says, “Boundaries in recovery can be challenging to begin with. They are a change from what you have known so far, but when you take baby steps in the right direction and build on them, they will become easier for you. But do remember, you will have to learn to enforce these boundaries from scratch - so you will have to collaborate with your therapist or counselor as you begin to establish and maintain them.”

Setting boundaries in recovery can seem like a huge mountain to climb right away. But it does not have to be this way. NuView provides you with the right tools and skills so that you can learn to establish and maintain boundaries in your recovery in a safe, non-judgmental environment toward a lasting recovery.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (323) 307-7997 to begin healing today!

1. Why must I set boundaries in recovery?

When you set boundaries in recovery, you define what is okay and not okay with you in relation to yourself and in your interactions with others/the world. Your boundaries in recovery will safeguard you from any person, entity, event, or circumstance that can deter your recovery.

2. How can boundaries prevent relapse?

Boundaries in recovery prevent you from coming in contact with your triggers and temptations that derail your recovery. You also learn to prioritize yourself and your recovery over everything else in life. In doing so, this plays a huge role in preventing relapse.

3. How can I learn to set boundaries?

Learn where and why you need boundaries, take small steps, build on the right steps, stay consistent, and reach out to your therapist or counselor whenever you need additional support.

4. What are the challenges to boundaries in recovery?

Overcoming unhealthy boundaries, feeling selfish/guilty, fear of disappointing others, and not being able to communicate your boundaries clearly are some challenges to boundaries in recovery.

5. Can therapy or counseling help with setting boundaries?

Yes, therapy or counseling can teach you how to set and strengthen your boundaries in a safe, non-judgmental environment.