Addiction affects many aspects of an addict’s life that they will need to evaluate and repair. Among those, relationships are one of the hardest factors to rebuild because they depend on the cooperation of another person. Addiction does not just affect the addict; spouses, children, and friends can experience betrayal trauma and be resistant to working with a recovering addict.

Often, lying, deceit, and manipulation come hand in hand with addiction. Both parties must be willing to try to repair the damage and learn to trust again. Restoring healthy relationships takes time and the process can present many challenges to overcome. Working with boundaries and communication is a significant part of rebuilding relationships and helping people reconnect.