Social Support for Recovery
The Key Benefits of Social Support for Those in Recovery
One will come to find social support from family members, an anonymous recovery group, their halfway house or any sober community at all, as well as in friendship circles involving schooling or whilst practicing hobbies. These social networks, when applicable, need to be aware of the challenges that you are going through so that they can offer compassionate and empathetic support. There are those that will benefit from professional counseling as well.
Social support is one of the most crucial and essential components of the addiction recovery journey, and a third of the AA triangle (identified as “fellowship”). All recovery experts advise that any recovering addict or alcoholic should find ways in which they can get immediate sober social support. When in active addiction, one can find themselves inadvertently or deliberately isolating, which leads to incredible danger, as they withdraw from the recovery lifestyle. This support helps one to achieve success in life and in sobriety, with the added bonus of being able to help others.
Some of the main advantages of social support include:
Self-Validation in Recovery
Validation often gives us the courage we need to brave the challenges ahead. We also get to hear of how others are handling their problems, from which we get real practical guidance on how we can stay sober despite the many challenges ahead.
During recovery, one goes through myriad challenges–some of these include withdrawal symptoms, in which the craving for drugs or alcohol, shaking, tremors, sweating, nausea, and other symptoms must be endured. When one hears others sharing about the same challenges they’ve faced in their lives, one is validated that they aren’t the only ones fighting through the struggle, and is reminded they never need to face recovery alone.
An Increased Sense of Belonging in Sobriety
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the sense of belonging comes just after human basic needs. This goes to show just how much we humans crave being a part of something, wanting to be wanted and needing to feel useful. A familial unit is the best place to provide this feeling; this becomes an integral motivating factor in one’s own sobriety and long-term recovery. Being amongst peers becomes integral to one’s life in recovery.
This new family, or newfound social circle is an essential aspect of giving the sick and suffering individual in recovery a feeling of belonging. One might ask, “Who else could possibly know what I’m going through?” And in a fellowship and new social circles, one begins to feel at home.
Our Social Supports
Survive 9-5
Be Phree
Woman In Recovery
Optimism About Life After Addiction/Alcoholism Treatment
In a halfway house, treatment center, or an anonymous support group like AA, one witnesses success stories left and right, and one begins to relate to others, becomes inspired, and begins to follow suit. Now we begin to see a recovering alcoholic or addict live a sober life, get a decent job and lead a fulfilling and meaningful life. Soon, we begin to think, “Maybe I can do this too.” This creates motivation for all in recovery. And despite any common challenges they have, they can also lead a sober and fruitful life moving forward, and do it together with inspiration and help from others.
Instrumental Group Support
Family members that are supportive and knowledgeable in the recovery world (especially with help from Al-Anon) will be extremely beneficial in offering practical help like taking you or a loved one to treatment, therapy, or meetings. They can also encourage you to attend a 12-step program and even attend meetings with you. This type of help is essential in making you or a recovering loved one have a sense of importance and usefulness.
In a group of others in recovery, which will soon simply feel like a group of friends, one can get help on various life issues. For example they might be able to help or suggest a new place to live, a career path, or anything else.
In conclusion, social support, especially from the family, is integral and will easily help boost morale and fortitude. Family should be careful not to enable you or your loved one, doing things easily able to be accomplished by themselves. Enabling might seem like support, but in actuality it makes the individual less motivated to stop abusing drugs, as their lifestyle and choices are being supported.
Reduced Triggers For Drug Use
In a halfway house or during meetings, the man or woman in recovery meets others just like them who have trod through the same dark path of addiction–in these bold individuals they will always find camaraderie. They also have an environment where they can get support without judgment. An environment without judgment helps to reduce stress and maximize success of long-term recovery.
Most of us who had been suffering from addiction or alcoholism have been cast out by their family, work, and even at times by society. This lifestyle has a knack for pushing those that matter to us most away, because we can’t help but simply be selfish about our own needs revolving around the drug or drink.
However, a family that is conscious of its role in helping the loved one to recover is likely to offer both the physical shelter and the psychological safety one needs during the early stages in recovery. Whether it’s a nuclear family or newfound family in recovery, family is always there! This setting makes recovery simple, insofar as us simply letting others guide and direct our decisions and behaviors in early recovery. This care and protection reduces the stress level often seen in early recovery, and enables us to focus more strongly on their recovery, and what really matters, often helping us get back on track when we slide off.
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