Addiction recovery is a journey that can be extremely challenging. It’s natural to want to reach out for support, but sometimes, it’s too easy to reach out for the wrong kind of help. It’s important to gather the right support system around you to ensure you can have the greatest success in addiction recovery.
Having friends who have been through addiction recovery can be a huge benefit. They know how to help you overcome the rocky times and celebrate the good ones. Some people can provide effective support during addiction recovery, and some can hinder it. There are people inside and outside of your family who can provide meaningful assistance throughout this process. Here’s what you need to know.
Find Support From Medical Professionals You Trust
One of the most important factors in addiction recovery is finding a support system you can rely on. Finding someone who will keep you accountable and help you make healthy decisions, especially when staying away from drugs or alcohol, is important. A good start is with medical professionals with experience treating addiction, such as therapists or counselors specializing in addiction recovery. You can check with your primary care doctor for recommendations of specialists in your area.
Look for Addiction Recovery Groups
While one-on-one counseling is important to help you work through your unique issues, there is comfort in hearing the similarities in your story to others. That’s why most professionals recommend individual and group therapy for addiction recovery. People who are recovering addicts need the support and camaraderie that comes from a group setting, but they also need time to process unique experiences in one-on-one therapy. These are some of the best opportunities for building a support system to help you succeed on your recovery journey.
Explain to Your Family How They Can Best Support Your Recovery
Once you’ve decided to pursue addiction recovery, it’s vital to explain your choice to your family. Tell them as much as they need to know about the nature of your addiction and how it has impacted your life. Make sure they understand how important their support will be in enabling you to recover successfully.
Explain the potential consequences of relapse if they don’t provide this support. Ask for their help finding a treatment program for yourself, or at least communicate your intention and plans to see a doctor or therapist. Family can support you by taking you to therapy sessions, abstaining from alcohol when you are around, and even helping you find ways to overcome your triggers. They can even encourage you to seek help for other mental health needs.
Avoid Your Drinking or Drug Addict Buddies
Avoid the people who used to be your “using buddies.” These are the friends you drank, smoked, or snorted with before you got sober. They were there for you when things were going well but weren’t there when you needed someone most. Don’t let them when it comes time for them to try and get back in your life. You need people around who will support you through this journey and understand that relapse can happen after only one slip-up. You need sober people around you who can help you stay that way too.
Try Meeting New People
You may find that you need to make new friends. If so, try attending a recovery support group or volunteering at a local organization. These types of activities allow you to meet new people who can cheer you on or who can help you focus on the needs of others. Finding new friends who enjoy similar activities or want to help make the world a better place is okay. You can meet people through clubs, apps, through other friends. These new people can become a support to you because they will be more likely to do things that don’t involve drugs and alcohol, which can help you in recovery.
A support network is one of the most important factors in your success. Having people to talk to and seek advice from can help you stay motivated and give you a place to vent and share your thoughts when you feel anxious or worried. Your support network should consist of people who understand what addiction recovery is like and will be able to provide helpful advice to you.
