The struggle with addiction is one that can take some individuals many years to overcome.
However, with the right techniques, the right support, and a strong motivation and commitment to programmes such as rehabilitation, any individual can make a strong and successful recovery.
Addiction, in the case of addiction to alcohol or other drugs, is characterised by the desire to continue to consume a substance.
This is a repetitive behavioural struggle that is influenced by cravings, triggers, and the environment around the individual.
This is a serious mental health issue and is one that should never be overlooked or underestimated.
Addiction is also a non-discriminatory disease, meaning that any individual can develop it, no matter their background.
This makes addiction one of the most difficult diseases to overcome, but having a good attitude toward recovery and creating boundaries can be a great way to start this process.
This blog post aims to explore boundaries (from personal boundaries and unhealthy boundaries to avoid), how they can be used to help an individual overcome their addiction, and techniques for setting these boundaries when first starting an individual’s journey to recovery.
When people think of “setting boundaries”, they may often think of setting boundaries between other people or perhaps in a more social setting in general.
In some instances, this can be true and cause issues such as opening up and being honest with therapists, for example, which is a documented issue (1), but one that is vital to consider, nonetheless.
However, boundaries can be used in many different ways. For example, during addiction recovery, an individual would not make much progress unless they set some personal boundaries for themselves.
This could include general boundaries such as avoiding situations and contact with the substance they are addicted to, but it could also include more specific and unique boundaries that are individual to each case.
Boundaries with others in recovery must also be considered, but this is covered later in the blog.
As mentioned above, no successful recovery journey would be effective without the individual’s creation of boundaries, whether these are relevant to themselves, their specific programme, or factors around them.
There are also many benefits of boundaries that many individuals may not consider. Some of the key examples are outlined below in regard to an effective recovery journey:
If an individual is beginning to think about their own boundaries and how best to go about creating them, then one of the most helpful ways to think about this is to consider the different types of boundaries that individuals can set for themselves and their situation.
The four different types of boundaries are outlined across the following subheadings.
Physical boundaries are one of the most commonly thought-of and used boundaries in everyday life. They are the easiest type of boundary to recognise in others, and it is often the type of boundary that most people are comfortable with sharing.
Personal space is one of the most common examples of this.
Some individuals may struggle with the concept of physical boundaries – perhaps because of ways that have been treated or taught to treat themselves in the past – but this does not mean that an individual cannot create these boundaries later in life.
Physical boundaries can include things such as no physical touch unless given permission, keeping personal items safe and away from others’ touch or reach, and the removal of oneself from the environment should they come into contact with something that is triggering for them.
Addiction can be considered a disorder that is due to loss of self-control (2), but setting physical boundaries in this way can massively help reduce these feelings and steer the individual toward a positive recovery experience.
Emotional boundaries are slightly more complex. In the same way that individuals are entitled to their own physical space and restrictions around this, they are also entitled to emotional boundaries as this can greatly reduce the stressors, triggers, and negative situations that the individual may experience.
To set emotional boundaries, individuals should consider how well they are able to deal with and accept “emotional energy”. This refers to situations in which another individual – even a friend or family member – may choose to vent or talk about something that the individual in recovery does not have the capacity to process.
This may be as a result of dealing with their own emotions and processing these, meaning that they have little energy left for the issues of others as well as their own, but it may also be a result of avoiding specific topics or issues that the individual does not want to face at that moment in time.
Time boundaries can be one of the most effective ways of thinking about and managing time within the individual’s recovery process.
This means that an individual should be strict on how and where they spend their time, allowing for important events such as attending therapy and group sessions, but also avoiding spending time on things that do not immediately need the individual’s attention.
Some individuals may find it useful to make a visual representation of this, either in the form of a personal calendar or by outlining certain times of the day/specific days for specific activities.
Internal boundaries are the boundaries that we set for the self and can also be referred to as morals or ethics.
These are the boundaries in which we confine our own behaviour, ensuring not to break these boundaries and do something that may cause us to feel incredibly guilty afterwards.
When it comes to internal boundaries in addiction and recovery, this can be something that many individuals struggle with as it may appear as though a lack of internal boundaries has lead the individual to this point, but it is always important to remember that these boundaries can be changed and updated where suitable and influenced in a positive direction.
If an individual is suitable for group therapy or group rehabilitation sessions, then this is another form of boundaries that an individual should be aware of when considering boundaries in addiction recovery.
Group therapy sessions are a place of respect, listening, and not judging those around us who may be in similar situations.
This means that individuals in group therapy should always respect the boundaries of their group i.e., not speaking over others, not bringing up triggering topics that others have warned about avoiding, being on time, completing work away from the group to have something to discuss and share.
By respecting the boundaries, the individuals will make better progress toward to goals set forth by this form of therapy (3) and will find it far more effective and efficient as a form of treatment in general.
Each group therapy session will have different boundaries, so it is important to make oneself aware of these as soon as possible in order to respect others and the process that they are all working their way through.
In some instances, it may be suitable for an individual to reassess their boundaries, perhaps due to the way that it is impacting them and those around them, but also how it may be impacting on their recovery as a whole.
Boundary setting is a flexible and complex process and is something that must not be rushed.
The biggest change in boundaries will often occur in the early stages of recovery i.e., when an individual is considering what they want to gain from their experience in treatment and rehabilitation, as this is the time in which the individual is considering what is actually important to them and how they may need to adjust their current lifestyle and/or behaviours in order to work toward this.
Additionally, there are some instances in which an individual may temporarily change their boundaries when around specific individuals or situations. This is detailed further in the following two subheadings.
Individuals will always behave differently around their close friends, family, or partner, compared to people that they do not know.
This difference in behaviour can be a positive, but it can also be a negative. This is why it is always important to reassess these boundaries regularly, especially when something that used to be accepted is beginning to make individuals uncomfortable, and vice versa – when something that an individual used to consider to be a boundary is now more acceptable to them.
This does not have to be a sudden change, either. In many cases, this is often a gradual change that will accompany ongoing conversations and discussions about how it may have become more or less acceptable to the individual and what may have changed this.
In some cases, an individual may feel as though their boundaries change across different situations and events. For example, being at work can have many different boundaries to those that may be present at a party or social event.
However, it is always important to keep these boundaries consistent with the individual’s recovery as a whole.
For example, an individual struggling with an alcohol addiction may have boundaries about going out for drinks with work colleagues to avoid being around the consumption of alcohol, but this may change if they are invited to a friend’s wedding, for example.
In both of these cases, the individual should maintain the overall boundary of avoiding alcohol, but they should not compromise their addiction as a whole just to attend one event over the other.
Rehab 4 Addiction has a long history of helping individuals find the most suitable form of treatment for them and their struggle with addiction.
This can vary from the free and confidential advice that comes from our addiction support team, all the way to being referred to a specialist rehabilitation centre for a full rehabilitation programme.
To find out how we can help you or someone you know with addiction, setting personal boundaries, or learning about any of the topics mentioned in this blog article in general, give us a call on 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] Nerenberg, A., 2010. Treating addictions: a balanced approach to boundaries and therapist self-disclosure. In Psychotherapist Revealed (pp. 135-148). Routledge.
[2] Weinberg, D., 2013. Post-humanism, addiction and the loss of self-control: Reflections on the missing core in addiction science. International Journal of Drug Policy, 24(3), pp.173-181.
[3] Roth, J.D., 2016. Group psychotherapy and recovery from addiction: Carrying the message. Routledge.
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
