In the journey of overcoming addiction, one of the most significant hurdles that people face is rebuilding trust. Individuals who seek help for their addiction struggles often find it hard to place trust in supportive organizations and institutions. Fortunately, we at First Steps Recovery understand this dilemma. What’s more, we know how to help people rebuild trust.
At First Steps Recovery, we have been helping individuals on their path to recovery for a long time. We’ve learned that compassion is key in helping clients rebuild trust in themselves and others. We at First Steps understand that past experiences might have made it tough to trust anyone, let alone institutions that have failed.
Our approach doesn’t just focus on trusting our staff or our facility; it’s about rebuilding trust within the recovery community. Through our alumni program, we offer a supportive community where clients can connect with others who walk a similar path. By building trust among fellow participants, clients find the strength to trust the process and believe in their recovery.
Rebuilding Trust During Addiction Treatment
It’s important to recognize that addiction can lead to broken relationships and a loss of trust in both oneself and others. Here at First Steps Recovery, we see the process of rebuilding trust as fundamental to achieving lifelong recovery. Part of that process is learning the way that addiction negatively distorts the view one has of the world.
When under the control of addictive substances, the mind becomes skewed and is unable to see who is trustworthy. This leads to putting oneself in the company of those who do not have their best interests in mind. In turn, they see institutions as antagonistic and cease trusting them.
This distrust is not the fault of those in treatment and recovery. Still, it is important to understand the fallacy behind it. The loss of trust that individuals in recovery sometimes feel is not necessarily the result of a failure of institutions. It is the result of the distorted thought processes that occur when a controlled substance takes control of one’s thoughts.
Why Trust Matters in Addiction Recovery
Moreover, parents with deep trust in the institutions of our society and others pass that trust along to their children. According to the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, studies show that children who trust institutions and the people around them inherit that trust from their parents. There may even be a genetic component to this. Whether the cause is genetic or environmental, having trusting parents leads to calmer, more well-adjusted children.
This may sound like great news, but there are vast swathes of American society who don’t have this trust. The truth is that impoverished communities and communities of color do not trust the institutions that are responsible for their circumstances. In these communities, rebuilding trust after years of mistreatment has become a generational problem that still needs solving.
The same is true for people in addiction recovery. Many in recovery who once faced addiction now have trouble trusting the institutions that failed them during their addiction. Helping to rebuild this trust is crucial to long-term recovery.
How Rebuilding Trust Empowers Communities of Color
Imagine a world where trust is the foundation of our interactions with institutions, in which everyone feels valued and heard. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a goal worth striving for. Achieving this goal starts with understanding how trust plays a crucial role in our lives, especially within marginalized communities.
Now, let’s journey into this new world, where people are coming together to rebuild trust among Indigenous American youth, families, and communities. It’s a multi-faceted approach, meaning it tackles trust from various angles, recognizing that trust is a complex and multi-dimensional issue. This may sound like a utopia, yet it must happen if everyone is to be afforded a worthwhile existence.
Why is rebuilding trust so important? Trust is like the glue that holds our communities together. When we trust the institutions that serve us, it’s easier to access the resources and support we need. Trust creates a sense of security and belonging, which are essential elements that allow any community to thrive.
Intersectional Recovery: Navigating the Journey of Rebuilding Trust in Institutions
For communities of color, trust can be harder to come by due to historical injustices and systemic inequalities. That’s why initiatives like the one we’re exploring here are so vital. Such initiatives aim to bridge the gap and rebuild trust that may have been eroded over time.
When trust is restored, communities become stronger. Individuals and communities can advocate for their needs, voice their concerns, and actively participate in shaping their future. This vision isn’t just about rebuilding trust; it’s about building a better future.
A Path to Inclusive Recovery Wellness in Marginalized Communities
What can help us on the path toward greater trust? Mindfulness therapy is a valuable avenue that helps people regain trust in themselves and the world. Another method that helps people in addiction recovery is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which can create a significant difference in how we perceive ourselves. Some examples of how mindfulness therapy and CBT can play roles in this trust-building process include:
- Self-trust – by fostering self-awareness and self-acceptance
- Emotional regulation – by managing emotions through mindfulness
- Reducing anxiety and fear – by letting go of past regrets and future worries, allowing one to trust the safety of the current moment
- Reconnecting with sensations – through body scans and mindful eating, reconnecting with physical experiences
- Rebuilding trust in relationships – by practicing active listening and empathy to improve communication and foster emotional intelligence
- Managing triggers and urges – by demonstrating the ability to resist temptation and rebuild trust in one’s willpower
- Acceptance of imperfection – by treating imperfections as opportunities for growth, so that individuals can rebuild trust in their resilience and ability to bounce back.
Rebuilding trust in institutions can be difficult, especially when it comes to addiction recovery. At the heart of this is the idea of empowerment. When you can achieve trust, this creates more progress and contributes to a feeling of being in control of your recovery. It is so important for you to feel like you can trust again, both in yourself and in the systems that are there to help you. Armed with that trust, you can have confidence that the road that lies ahead is one that leads to a better tomorrow. To find out more about how First Steps Recovery can help you rebuild trust, call us at (844) 489-0836 today.
Rebuilding trust in institutions can be difficult, especially when it comes to addiction recovery. At the heart of this is the idea of empowerment. When you can achieve trust, this creates more progress and contributes to a feeling of being in control of your recovery. It is so important for you to feel like you can trust again, both in yourself and in the systems that are there to help you. Armed with that trust, you can have confidence that the road that lies ahead is one that leads to a better tomorrow. To find out more about how First Steps Recovery can help you rebuild trust, call us at (844) 489-0836 today.
