In sports, the notion of in bounds versus out of bounds is extremely important. Whether a football player was in bounds or out of bounds when he caught the ball can change the course of a game. When a tennis player returns a serve outside the lines defining the court, she loses the point. A ball that is foul rather than fair cannot be a home run in baseball, no matter how far it travels. When an errant pass results in the basketball going out of bounds, the other team gets the ball.
All of these sports—and many others besides—depend on boundaries to define the field of play. Without those boundaries, none of these sports would be practical to play. All of the action has to occur within an agreed-upon space because an infinite playing field is simply untenable.
What does any of this have to do with substance use disorders and recovery? Well, we would argue that just like you cannot effectively play a sport without boundaries, you also cannot maintain your recovery over time without setting some clear boundaries.
Let’s take a look at what might be in bounds and what might be out of bounds when it comes to recovery.
In Bounds: People Who Support You / Out of Bounds: People Who Tear You Down
When it comes to maintaining your recovery, who you hang out with is important. A person in recovery from a substance use disorder is well served by surrounding themselves with family and friends who are supportive and who will stick with you in a crisis. The people who attend recovery meetings with you are also vital sources of support because they know what you have been through and what challenges you might be facing now. We would also include your mental and physical health care providers among those who can support your recovery efforts. All of these people are in bounds in recovery.
Who is out of bounds? People who tear you down, who love to gossip, or who do not respect your efforts to leave drugs or alcohol behind should not be part of your social circle. Even more specifically, you should avoid anyone with whom you connect with your substance use—including folks you might have hung out with when you were under the influence, as well as anyone who supplied you with the substances you were using. These sorts of people are out of bounds in recovery.
In Bounds: A Home Free of Substances / Out of Bounds: Easy Access to Drugs or Alcohol
Once your recovery journey is underway, it would be ideal if your living space were free of drugs or alcohol that might tempt you toward relapse. In many cases, this is likely possible because your family members or roommates will want to support you in your new substance-free life. A home where drugs or alcohol are not present is definitely in bounds.
What is out of bounds? If you live with folks who are active drug users or who love to drink alcohol, it might be necessary to rethink your living situation. That, of course, will be trickier if you are, for example, married to a person who wants to keep drinking even after you have been through treatment for a substance use disorder. One option in a case like this is to ensure that any and all alcohol is locked up so that you do not have access to it—because easily available alcohol is clearly out of bounds. In some cases, you may also have to arrange a system that ensures you will not be present when your partner is imbibing. This is not an ideal situation at all (or to put it another way, it is just barely in bounds), but it could be workable if the relationship in question is otherwise healthy and supportive.
In Bounds: Time for Yourself / Out of Bounds: An Ongoingly Stressful Schedule
Having a hobby can be an important approach to maintaining your recovery. That is because an engrossing hobby gives you the opportunity to relax and recharge—which in turn can lower your overall stress levels. Keeping stress manageable is a key part of keeping your recovery moving forward, so setting aside time for yourself—and putting that time in your calendar—is essential.
What is out of bounds? Throwing yourself into work or other responsibilities can lead to increased levels of stress—which in turn can put your recovery at risk. In fact, work can become a substitute addiction, which can become as problematic as a substance use disorder or lead you down the path to relapse.
Definitely In Bounds: Getting Help for a Substance Use Disorder
At Bel Aire Recovery Center, located near Wichita, Kansas, we help individuals overcome substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders. Via our medically supervised detox program, our robust approach to rehabilitation, and our commitment to ongoing support after treatment comes to an end, we help those we serve build a new life free from drugs or alcohol.
When you are ready to declare drugs and alcohol out of bounds, we are ready to help you get your recovery underway.
