Signs of an Emotionally Abusive Relationship

A big part of staying mentally healthy and preventing relapse is being able to take a good honest look at your relationships. After all, surrounding yourself with people who support you and make you a better you will only serve to help your lasting sobriety. 

Abuse can take many different forms, including emotional abuse, and the signs aren't always easy to spot. This is why it’s important to take a step back and consider any red flags that may mean it’s time to walk away. 

According to the National Domestic Violence hotline, you may be in an emotionally/verbally abusive relationship if you partner exerts control through:

• Calling you names, insulting you or continually criticizing you
• Refusing to trust you and acting jealous or possessive
• Trying to isolate you from family or friends
• Monitoring where you go, who you call and who you spend time with
• Demanding to know where you are every minute
• Trapping you in your home or preventing you from leaving
• Punishing you by withholding affection
• Threatening to hurt you, the children, your family or your pets
• Humiliating you in any way
• Blaming you for the abuse
• Gaslighting
• Accusing you of cheating and being often jealous of your outside relationships
• Serially cheating on you and then blaming you for his or her behavior
• Cheating on you intentionally to hurt you and then threatening to cheat again
• Cheating to prove that they are more desired, worthy, etc. than you are
• Attempting to control your appearance: what you wear, how much/little makeup you wear, etc.
• Telling you that you will never find anyone better, or that you are lucky to be with a person like them

Let Our Mentors Guide You

Even with the recovery skills you’ve gained, you may feel uneasy when it comes to relationships. One of the advantages of sober living at HAUS is having fellow residents and a wonderful support team to help you stay clean and respect yourself while you transition from treatment to “normal life.” To learn more about our mentoring services, call today: 888-551-4715.

Self-Care Tips to Try This Valentine's Day

We’ve talked about how self-care is key to lasting sobriety — and Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to put it to the test. 

Let’s start by defining self-care. Here’s a good definition from Goodtherapy.org: “At its most basic definition, self-care is any intentional action taken to meet an individual’s physical, mental, spiritual or emotional needs. In short, it’s the little ways we take care of ourselves to avoid a breakdown in those respective areas of health.”

So with this in mind, what are some simple steps you can take to nurture yourself on Valentine’s Day and everyday? Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

• Go for a long walk or hike and pop in some headphones and listen to your favorite tunes.
• Create a piece of artwork — color, draw, paint, cut and paste, whatever helps spark your creativity.
• Make yourself a proper meal – whether a hearty breakfast, warm lunch or well-rounded dinner with fresh ingredients. 
• Tame negative self-talk by telling yourself something encouraging like “I’m doing my best today.” Or, take it a step further and post the affirmation where you’ll see it every day. 
• Listen to a podcast about something that interests you or that you want to learn more about.
• Attend a support group meeting and share – or just listen. 
• Give yourself a giggle by watching your favorite movie or meeting up with a friend who always tickles your funny bone.
• Carve out some quiet time – to just relax and reflect, mediate or get lost in a good book. Or dim the lights, lie on the floor and just breathe.
• Check in with yourself emotionally – how do you feel? Are any negative thoughts interfering with your growth and recovery?
• Do something nice for someone else – with no strings attached. 

A Healthier Lifestyle With Deeper Purpose

At Haus Recovery, we help our clients stay focused, maintain a positive attitude and care for themselves in order to attain their full recovery potential. To learn more about our services and activities, call us today: 888-551-4715.