Many of us view our personal romantic relationships as the most important relationships in our lives. You might even describe this person as either your “other half” or “better half”. In the ideal relationship, each person’s strengths and weaknesses are perfectly balanced by the talents and weaknesses of the other. Things might be going well for a while, but every romantic union always faces the risk of dissolving altogether, especially if addiction is a part of the equation. If you already dealt with substance abuse prior to dating this person, the chances of addiction after a breakup could continue and manifest even worse than before. Drinking too much after a breakup is a very real possibility that even people without a history of alcohol addiction can fall prey to. However, actions can be taken to prevent relapse (assuming you sought help in the past), or prevent a dependence from turning into an addiction.

Relationships that came with addiction

People will gravitate towards a partner who seems fun, exciting, checking off many boxes and further indicating to that person that this other person could be their ideal match–but, some caveats do show up early on. Whether it be a hot temper, paranoia, possessiveness, and perhaps the most dangerous of them all–drug and alcohol addiction. When an addiction has gotten a hard grip on someone, they may disregard the needs and feelings of those in their inner circle. Many believe that their drug and alcohol abuse is a huge part of who they are. Moreover, they want their partner to accept this belief and if any opposition is expressed, then they probably do not love that person as much as they think they do. 

What makes matters worse is when they try to cajole their partner into doing drugs or drinking alcohol with them, so that they can “relate” better to them. By doing drugs together, the addict views this as a way of never letting go. It’s dangerous behavior, and it’s not something to be innocently entrenched in, since it can also cause addiction or dependence for the person who did not initially have a problem.

Addiction and drinking too much after a breakup

So what happens when this relationship comes to a bitter end? Perhaps the addict lost touch with their partner and casted your importance in their life to the wayside. Regardless of what transpired, unless the addict is seeking help, the addiction will continue to persist and worsen. After a breakup in an addiction-centric relationship, the desire for drugs and alcohol could increase because you are so desperately trying to fill the void that your partner left. Either person in this relationship will turn back to substance abuse, as it reminds you both of the good times you once shared. The drugs may temporarily take the edge off the emotional and physical pain, but it may speak volumes to an even bigger issue–physical addiction, which could cause withdrawals and inclination to continue using. This is perhaps the most dangerous phase of breakup, since you might accidentally overdose or cause other types of damages. 

Substances and control

Breakups do lead to bouts of despondency and for some, they may feel as though they have lost control over things that were the most meaningful part of their lives. The type of substances a person turns to will vary, but drinking too much after a breakup is unfortunately common, as the feelings of control alcohol (temporarily) provides can feel euphoric. Avoiding addiction after a breakup requires that you identify the risks and take steps to eliminate them. Even though you can’t control the several aspects of your breakups, it is possible to exude control in other ways and in doing so, you can prioritize your sobriety efforts and getting back on track.

Recognizing the issue and seeking help

The loss of a relationship is one of life’ major stressors, despite how physically or mentally healthy a person is. Do not try to undermine the various impacts of a breakup and try to understand that upheavals put you at greater risk for relapse. Give yourself permission to grieve and be kind to yourself in ways that don’t involve giving into addiction after a breakup.

Once you have been kind to yourself and are slowly inching back toward normalcy, take it a step further and seek out addiction treatment in Fair Lawn NJ, if your propensity for substance use is high. Additionally, lean on family and friends who understand your activeness or intentions to be in recovery. They will provide the kind of support that will help keep you going, all while steadily mitigating your risk for relapse. 

Additional tips for daily coping

It’s okay to have fleeting emotions, during this trivial moment in your life. Since breakups involve multifactorial elements, here are some tips you can implement to make it easier to cope:

• Pamper yourself in appropriate ways

• Volunteer your time to help those who are less fortunate

• Start focusing on hobbies or passion projects that fuel your ambitions

• Exercise (i.e., aerobic exercises, strength training, crossfit, etc.)

Bad situations can easily be made worse when you add drug or alcohol use and abuse into the mix. Many people often find themselves drinking too much after a breakup as a result of the emotional fallout. If you are able to stay clean and healthily rebuild and foster new relationships in your life, the sky’s the limit. North Jersey Recovery Center empathizes with your personal situation and will work closely alongside you, making recovery seem not so difficult. To learn more about getting help for your SUD’s, contact us today! We look forward to helping you!