Jackie was starting to empathize. A compelling and crucial component in addiction therapy.
How does empathy help an addict recover?
Empathy is the ability think of others with compassion and understanding. An empathetic person can put their own needs and perspective on hold, to consider those of another person. With that in mind, we should think of empathy as a learned life skill that supports sound decision-making and healthy relationships.
An addicted person loves only the object of his or her addiction. Self-absorption and self-interest are hard at work. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, sex, or food, he or she lives for the next high, not the care and maintenance of any other relationship.
To live a healthy, sober life, recovery must include empathy. Experts have found that teaching empathy provides a solid chance at lasting rehabilitation results. Recovery and empathy are the best antidote to addiction and self-absorption.
Empathy in therapy does three very important things:
Empathy fosters trust.
Addiction is devastating to trust. The addict trusts no one but his substance or activity to feel better. Not even him or herself. The addict’s family can’t trust the addict not to mentally, emotionally, or physically do damage.
Addict to addict. Addict in group therapy. Addict to therapist. An addict to his or her family. An addict in his or her own head. In each relationship, a measure of baseline trust must exist to fully enjoy a sense of wellbeing.
Creating a treatment environment that requires empathetic sharing, listening and discussion, allows vulnerability and respect to reenter the relationships. The addicted person relearns how to see outside themselves.
Empathy soothes conflict and initiates healing.
To glean the most from addiction treatment, a good amount of humility is required. Little is accomplished in a state of indignation, blame, and confrontation, or withdrawal. To be humble enough to recognize the errors in judgment, created by addiction, is near impossible in any sustainable way without the ability to focus on how others may perceive them, and the consequences of their actions.
Once an addict is able to empathize with those they may have hurt, those people can let their guards down, and open their minds to the amends being made. Family therapy and healing become more effective. The kind of healthy support necessary for successful recovery is improved.
Empathy improves communication.
When both the addict, and the people in his or her life, begin to grasp how each other may feel, lines of communication open up. The addict feels less judged and more apt to share his or her root pain. Loved ones become truly interested in understanding and sharing the addicted person’s experience. They also feel that their own experiences with this person won’t be dismissed. Healthier, more meaningful conversation evolves naturally in the treatment program, due to the sense of safety, understanding, and appreciation that is created.
Empathy is a practice. Addiction aims to make you forget the skills involved.
Treatment that empowers with empathy reestablishes mutual, non-judgmental humanity. It connects through emotional awareness and self-understanding, creating a bridge that helps keep addicts and their loved ones connected, and reaching toward each other.
