If you have a relationship addiction or you care for someone who has, the first step in getting help is admitting the problem. This may very well be the most difficult aspect of recovery, as a relationship addiction may closely mimic what we accept as healthy. An evaluation by a mental health professional may help to assess the problem and determine a course of treatment. A psychiatric evaluation may provide the medical treatment that a co-occurring mental illness will require.

Support groups can provide the reassurance that one is not “crazy” or “unlovable.” The addicted person will see that she is not alone in dealing with these problems. Healthy relationships are not just good, they are necessary. And they take practice. The more exposure an addicted person can get to healthy relational models with opportunities to practice, the faster and more thoroughly she can enjoy recovery.