Time spent in a rehab facility is often a time for people to evaluate their personal values and goals. Dating after rehab is not easy, as much of what had been there before may have been damaged during treatment. The answer is not clear-cut. Many different factors will determine the right time to start dating again after rehab. It really depends on the person and what they want out of their recovery journey.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Date Right After Rehab
You Might Be Emotionally And Spiritually Vacant
Your whole life changed the day you entered rehab. You grew from the person you were before, but, likely, recovery was not all you wanted it to be. You may feel that you’re now missing parts of your life and will have to go through this recovery journey alone. This feeling of emptiness won’t help your decision on dating right after rehab. It would be best to give yourself time to heal and reflect on the past before moving to the future. Give yourself time and space.
You Have To Address Personal Issues First
Rehab is the best place to work on personal issues, but many people don’t realize that it takes time to develop these skills and break old habits. You may need to get more help after rehab before you can date again. It’s important you’re not just physically clean from substances, but also mentally as well. Dating before you sort out your issues is not only hard but also unfair to the person you’re trying to date.
You May Have A Hard Time Flirting And Chating With Someone
Remember when you first started thinking about the future after rehab? You probably went over things you wanted to do and the person you wanted to be. If anything, those dreams might have become lost in your recovery process. It could be hard for someone to rebuild that confidence again, especially when it comes down to flirting and dating. Don’t give up hope, though. Just know it will take time for you to reach your goals.
Be Truthful About Your Feelings And Thoughts
You’re probably unsure about certain things in your life. For example, you might not know what you should say or do after rehab. As a person in recovery, you also probably don’t know how to feel or act around others anymore. Work on yourself first before moving on to the next stage of your life. You’ll need the courage and personal strength to make it through the good and bad times in a relationship.
You’ll Have More Time To Improve Your Recovery
Even if you feel ready to go out with someone, you must work on yourself first. Dating while in recovery can bring up old problems and feelings of resentment. It would be best to sort these feelings out now before moving into the next stage. Wait until you’re ready for a relationship before trying to start one. Dating after recovery will be much more rewarding for you in the long run.
Rebuild Your Confidence
Dating is not easy, as it requires a great deal of confidence to talk to someone and express feelings. Being in a relationship also means you have less time to work on yourself in your recovery. Dating after rehab will be much easier once you feel confident again with yourself and your recovery. Take time to rebuild this confidence before trying to date again.
It Will Help You Get To Know Yourself Better
Most people in recovery feel as though they have lost themselves. You’ll need time to work out who the real you are and what you want from life. It is especially important for those in recovery for drug and alcohol issues, which often go hand-in-hand with other problems like anxiety and depression. In conclusion, you need to look at your recovery and realize how far you’ve come since the last time you were sober. The past is behind you, and you now have the chance to move forward in a positive direction. You can feel good about yourself and have a clear picture of what your future will hold.
Too many people get caught up in the dating process that they don’t take time to rest or reflect on their actions so much as they hope it was normal or okay what happened. Waiting before you start dating again is the best option, as it will allow you to think about what you want and how dating will fit into your new life. You’re starting a new journey, yet if you’re like most people in recovery, it’s been one filled with trials and tribulations. You do not have to rush anything. To better understand dating after rehab, call 866-963-7200.
