Incorporating Effective Communication Skills at Home

Graduating from a dedicated treatment program at Hawaii Island Recovery and transitioning to a sustainable, sober life as an alumnus is a major accomplishment. However, the healing journey does not end there. Each alumnus will still be tasked with navigating stressful situations, repairing relationships, practicing conflict resolution, and much more to maintain their sober focus. Continuing to refine effective communication skills at home in conjunction with the skills learned through rehab in Hawaii is paramount to furthering each person’s personal goals in sobriety. 

Communication is an important skill to practice at any stage in recovery. However, practicing communication skills is also complicated, with effective communication involving many factors. For those overcoming addiction, mental health disorders, trauma, PTSD, and more, these skills are instrumental in garnering the proper support as well as addressing any number of otherwise stressful or trying experiences. 

Eliminating miscommunication can prevent misunderstandings or feelings of distrust or betrayal, as well as empower alumni to navigate stressful situations by setting appropriate expectations, boundaries, and more. Not only can effective communication empower entire families to engage in effective healing, but it can also empower alumni to be their own best advocate for their needs, all while building trust and repairing relationships with friends, family, and loved ones. 

Communication is a crucial part of all kinds of relationships, for the relationship an alumnus has with their family and supports their relationship with coworkers in the workplace. Not all people will necessarily communicate in the same way, and finding the most appropriate way to communicate with others is paramount for creating an honest, open, and continuous dialogue to address any stresses and challenges that may arise. 

The words a person chooses to communicate are incredibly important, and even well-meaning messages and gestures can be compromised by choosing the wrong language. For example, supports should avoid using terms like “addict,” as it is a labeling and overall stigmatized term. Rather, saying that someone has an addiction separates the person’s identity from the disease and allows an individual to continue developing their own identity outside any past connection to addictive substances. 

Educating oneself about the disease of addiction, using “I” statements to avoid unnecessarily or accidentally portraying blame, and more are all important communication skills for connecting with those overcoming addiction. 

Even if an individual is listening to someone else, if those attempting to communicate do not feel as if they have a person’s attention, then effective and open communication can be difficult. Active listening involves making eye contact with those speaking, providing verbal confirmations of information without interrupting, and even asking further questions when appropriate or for clarity can minimize misunderstandings and promote a healthy and honest dialogue. For those overcoming addiction themselves and their families, friends, and loved ones, active listening is paramount to continue building trust. 

Respecting the boundaries of others is an important thing to consider, and it has direct ties to effective communication. It is normal that an individual may not be quite ready to talk about a particular challenge, emotional stress, or event in the day, or may want some personal privacy following their time in treatment. Forcing someone to talk about topics they are not emotionally prepared for can compromise the efficacy of these dialogues. 

Rather, making oneself available to discuss these challenges without overly prying or compromising boundaries can be the best approach to providing the best support. Likewise, patience is crucial in nurturing communication, understanding, and trust. 

Commonly, there will be disagreements or stressful conversations throughout the continued recovery process, and alumni as well as their families and supports can all feel these effects. However, even if there are disagreements, it is important to remain calm and collected. Practicing breathing strategies and grounding techniques can help alumni and others alike address these situations while still respecting each other and avoiding accusatory language that may further schism these relationships. 

However, this can be more complicated in the workplace, where coworkers or managerial staff may not have the same level of education or understanding regarding addiction and the recovery process. Remaining calm and continuing to practice grounding strategies can be instrumental in creating an opportunity to either provide this necessary information or empower an individual to be the advocate for their needs without adding additional stress to the situation. 

Effective communication skills take practice, and making adjustments to best explain each person’s needs, goals, or to be able to ask questions fairly are all important. Miscommunication can compromise otherwise important relationships, or bring harbored feelings of blame, resentment, and more to the front. Working with professionals to practice communication skills, as well as engaging in dedicated family treatment programs at Hawaii Island Recovery, can all be instrumental in exploring these strategies and creating a plan for communication, compromise, and a continued sober future. 

Communication is paramount, not just for personal healing but also to support sustainable familial change as an alumnus. However, each person communicates differently and can change how they communicate based on the situation. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we understand the need to continue to practice and refine these strategies to maintain sobriety outside of our treatment facility, and our unique approach to rehab in Hawaii helps you explore sustainable change as an alumnus. Our community of peers and professionals is always one call away to help you not just explore new communication strategies but also to help you identify new stresses and challenges that may be manifesting in daily life. To learn more, call us today at (866) 390-5070.