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Once you have successfully reached recovery for your sex addiction, it can be difficult to figure out how to create a healthy relationship. Recovering from sex addiction does not mean that you can never have a relationship again for fear of relapsing, you can have a relationship, you just need to know how to ensure that it is a positive one.
Make An Effort & Find Balance
Keeping the lines of communication open with your partner will ensure you’re both on the same page.
With anything, relationships post addiction take a lot of work in order for them to be successful and healthy. Maintaining addiction recovery itself, the NIDA stresses, requires you to put effort into your success. When you enter into a relationship, that effort should not wane. Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that it requires both parties working together.
Work towards keeping the relationship and your recovery healthy, and do what you can to keep the relationship from being focused on your recovery. However, do not through yourself into the relationship without thinking about what effects your addiction can have on it and vise-versa.
As you enter the relationship, make sure that you strike a balance between focus on your partner and your focus on your recovery.
Be Patient
It can be difficult to enter a relationship after recovery and quite overwhelming. For those with sex addiction, the best way to ensure that the relationship remains positive is to go slow. Addiction recovery is often a process that works best when addressed one day at a time. When you are in a relationship while in recovery, it is best that the relationship goes at the same pace.
Do not think that everything will be fine if you just jump head-first into the relationship, as that can be damaging for both parties and you recovery. Every relationship is going to be different and you should not follow the expectations of others who are not involved.
Go slow or at whatever pace is comfortable for both of you. You can always adjust along the way if necessary.
Communicate!
In many things, honesty is often the best policy. Being open and communicating with your partner in a relationship is the easiest way to ensure that it remains positive. Talking to your partner about how you feel about the relationship can make sure that you are both on the same page on things.
Sex addiction shares many characteristics with other addictions, which the NIDA states are chronic and prone to relapse. It can be very important to talk with your loved ones as a way to work through temptations that can cause you to relapse. Communicating with your partner and letting them know if you are uncomfortable or feel like you may be relapsing can help both of you.