If you have recently completed addiction rehab, you must be keen to get back to living a normal life. The period after rehab is critical since it will give you a confidence boost, as long as you can navigate through it without slipping. If you meet someone you like, it is okay to entertain thoughts of dating them. However, you must always keep in mind that you have a problem that you are handling. Should you date successfully, it could mark a new and bright chapter of your life. So what should you do?
Be clear about your situation
Once you decide to date a new person in your life, you must find a way of telling them that you are undergoing addiction recovery. Do not fear that the person will judge you harshly. If they do, they do not deserve to be in your life as you seek sober living in Los Angeles. If you need to avoid questions before the discussion, you ought to meet in places where there is no alcohol, such as a coffee house.
Take the relationship slowly
Recovering from addiction requires mental and emotional healing. Once you start dating, you may be tempted to progress things fast. If you do, you may end up opening the wounds after the discovery that you were not meant to be. The best strategy is to take the relationship slowly, so that by the time you are taking it a notch higher, you understand your partner well.
Commit to sobriety
As you go about your post-rehab life, you ought to remember that you cannot afford a relapse. Dating sometimes presents you with tempting situations that might test your resolve. Stay true to the course and keep off activities that may jeopardize your full recovery. No matter what you are going through, stay committed to sober living.
Avoid dating someone from within your immediate circle
When you get back in the dating game, you should not date someone from your immediate group of friends. In the unfortunate event that you have to part ways, you do not want to see them everywhere you go. Doing so may affect your overall state of mind and possibly affect you enough to go back to drinking.
Dating is not a bad thing, but you need to approach it with caution in a time you are particularly vulnerable. Heed the above advice, and you’re sure to be on your way to an exciting, healing new beginning.