4 Ways to Make Amends in Recovery

The origin of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ in modern use relates to addiction recovery and substance abuse treatment. However, in the context of grief recovery, David Kessler, in his book Finding Meaning, talks about the importance of living amends as a tool for grief healing. In particular, he discusses how to heal when the person we need to make amends with is no longer living. Whether or not you’re intimately familiar with the Twelve Steps of AA, you’ve probably heard of Step Nine.

Direct Amends

You can start making amends by showing up, even if it’s years later, to do the things you said you’d do. These promises are often the most difficult to keep because addiction plays a decisive role in a person’s ability to live up to their promises. Their parent may feel more pain for their addicted child’s inability to get sober than the material items lost due to the thefts.

Family and Children’s Programs

We’re telling the world, “Addiction made me behave a certain way. I don’t like it, and it doesn’t reflect the person I want to be in recovery.” Step Nine can leave you emotionally exhausted; it’s a difficult step to navigate. But the rewards you’ll reap from living amends can help make the challenges easier and more productive.

• And when it comes to our family and children, we might be particularly interested in speeding that process along.
• For example, someone living with an addiction may make amends by apologizing for stealing property and then make it right by returning what they’d taken.
• It’s important to note that making amends is for the person we hurt.
• Amends allow me to also right the wrongs I may continue to make.

If You’re Struggling to Make Amends

Sometimes I can listen supportively for a short period of time. Over the years, in small bits and pieces, I have been able to share small pearls of my Al-anon wisdom. If you’re on the fence about Step 9, remember that making amends can help you and the other person. There are three main types of amends, and it’s important to recognize which one is appropriate in a given situation. Understanding some making amends examples can help the individual correct past behaviors. Say, for example, you’re preparing to make amends to a former coworker, whom you once stole from to pay for drugs.

Examples of Making Amends in Recovery

Making amends helps repair relationship problems caused by addiction. While the process may seem daunting at first, you can make amends in a way that’s sincere and respectful. This can be a powerful way to move your healing journey forward. Sometimes, the person being approached for amends may need more time to be willing or ready to engage. It’s important to respect their boundaries and not force the interaction, as this could potentially cause further harm.

The Distinction Between Making Amends in Recovery and Apologizing

• It also shares useful coping tools, and helps the reader reflect on their unique relationship with grief and loss.
• In this way, you can take the focus off of yourself and choose to live a life of greater meaning.
• And some people in your life may not be receptive on your timeline.
• Catholics confess their sins to a priest to receive guidance and forgiveness.

living amends is a concept linked to addiction recovery and part of the twelve-step program for sober living. In simple terms, it means taking responsibility for the person you used to be and how you caused harm to the people in your life who care about you. Engaging in the process of making amends can be a profoundly transformative experience for individuals in recovery. Additionally, making amends reinforces an individual’s commitment to sobriety and personal growth. Engaging in the process of making amends serves several vital purposes in an individual’s recovery journey. Firstly, it allows the person in recovery to separate themselves from the disease of addiction, recognizing that their past actions were not a reflection of their actual values and character.

• Sometimes it can be hard to know what to say when preparing to make amends.
• The unfortunate truth is that we’re all human and we all fall short sometimes.
• When making direct amends, it is usually best to do so after a sustained period of sobriety and while in a calm state of mind.
• They want to find ways of making up for all their past wrongs, and they don’t want to miss the opportunity to do so once their loved one dies.
• By proactively correcting previous mistakes, those in recovery may be able to prevent future conflicts that could trigger a relapse.

Ways to Make Amends in Recovery