Showing Unconditional Love in Recovery

Whether you are going through recovery yourself or you are supporting a loved one who is recovering from an addiction, you may find that you are discovering some new feelings and emotions. You’ve been understandably stressed and worried and now it’s time to start showing unconditional love in recovery.

What is Unconditional Love?
Very simply, unconditional love is shared with no strings attached. You offer it freely, expecting nothing in return and placing no restrictions or requirements on the other person. Often referred to as agape love, unconditional love is selfless. The word agape comes from the Greek and means brotherly love or charity. In Ecclesiastical use, it refers to the love of God for man and of man for God.

Reaching Out to Others
When you are the one in addiction treatment, showing unconditional love in recovery can mean reaching out to others that you may have hurt or that you want to reconnect with in a more meaningful and positive way. In addiction, you probably damaged a lot of important relationships in your life.  The effort of reaching out to others can benefit you in recovery as you develop a sense of selfless concern for those around you and work to rebuild those relationships.

If you have a loved one who has been addicted and is now in recovery, showing them unconditional love can help them tremendously as they work on their treatment program. Let the person know you love and care about them, regardless of what they may have done when they were addicted. Unconditional does not mean, of course, that you should let them get away with things they should no longer be doing. What it does mean is that you are reassuring them that you will continue to love and forgive them for what they have done in the past and that you support them as they move forward with their life.

The Connection to Addiction
If your family member or friend is struggling to overcome their addiction, know that your unconditional love for them is the only thing that is more powerful in their life. An individual who is addicted to drugs or alcohol may have low self-esteem, most likely because they are often seen simply as someone who has made wrong choices. In truth, though, their addiction is a disease and they need your unconditional love to help them deal with the symptoms of that disease as they progress through recovery.

Selfless, loving kindness can be instrumental in helping people suffering from substance use issues. Empathy and compassion are important elements of unconditional love and can help individuals undergoing treatment as they work to understand their own feelings and to become more self-aware.

Mental and Emotional Benefits
Research has actually determined that when someone is a recipient of unconditional love, it can produce positive feelings for them. One study explored how the regions of the brain were affected when someone reached out and showed unconditional love. The result was that many areas of the brain’s reward system were activated.

Other studies showed that receiving unconditional love can make a difference in an individual’s emotional well-being. Participants exhibited greater resilience and fewer mental health symptoms. A study of children supported the idea that giving them unconditional love improved their lifelong health and well-being.

Christ’s Unconditional Love
The highest example we have of unconditional love comes from God himself. In a Christian-based addiction treatment setting, it is important to remember the love of Christ as He guides you through your recovery. For the person going through addiction treatment and for their family and friends, there are several helpful verses to help remind you of God’s unconditional love.

“Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.” — Psalm 36:7

“Let them thank the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all people, because God satisfied the one who was parched with thirst, and he filled up the hungry with good things!” — Psalm 107:8-9

“Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” — 1 Chronicles 16:34

“I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:18-19

California Faith-Based Drug Addiction Treatment
To get help overcoming drug addiction, please contact Celebrate Hope to learn more about our faith-based addiction treatment program. Our team helps men and women break the cycle of addiction and begin anew. We rely on the teachings of Jesus Christ, along with evidence-based therapies to get individuals on the path of recovery.