These programs are often considered a first-line treatment for people in recovery. For personal support systems, it may be a good idea to spend a little time thinking about the people in your life whom you trust as a source of support. Getting sober can be one of the most powerful decisions you can make for your health and future. Reflecting on past accomplishments provides a powerful reminder of how far one has come, giving the confidence needed to continue moving forward. Celebrating sobriety milestones with loved ones can foster a sense of gratitude and enhance motivation in your recovery journey.
SOS, Dharma Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Other Groups
Hopefully after a year, you have a clear (and sober) mindset that can help you make the best decision possible. Just as no one treatment plan fits all people, no one treatment plan may be suitable for the entire time you are in a formal treatment program. What type of treatment you need depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction. For instance, if your substance use disorder is diagnosed as mild, an outpatient program might be recommended. Outpatient programs vary widely but typically provide a designated number of hours of treatment per week at a treatment center or facility.
Participate in Healthy Communal Activities
People with whom you already have a relationship may be good candidates to be in your support network. Your family members have known you longer than anyone else and have likely witnessed your battle against substance abuse and addiction first-hand. However, in some cases, family members may have addictions or engage in behavior that may have contributed to your addiction prior to you entering rehab.
What Are Online Sobriety Support Groups?
For more severe addiction issues, healthcare professionals may suggest inpatient care, which requires you to live onsite at the hospital or facility for the duration of treatment. Engaging in these activities and reaching out to your sober support network when stress levels are high ensures a strong, healthy support network and overall well-being. Partaking in sober-friendly activities is vital to preserve sobriety and forestall relapse. These activities replace unhealthy behaviors like substance abuse with healthier coping mechanisms. Finding sober-friendly activities has been key in maintaining sobriety long-term. Involvement in sober events can disrupt the cycle of social isolation frequently encountered during recovery.
Use positive reinforcement and gratitude
Even people who readily extend themselves to support your recovery post-rehab may require considerable time and patience to learn how to support you. Therefore, you should normalize clear, open communication and always communicate your needs while you allow the members of your support network to learn and adjust. You should also become more responsive and be willing to answer the phone or otherwise provide a timely response when a member of your support network reaches out to you to inquire about your well-being. If you have damaged a relationship that was positive and healthy prior to your substance abuse, you may be able to repair the relationship. Mending damaged relationships is typically not an easy process as addicts often destroy the trust in the relationship. When you are new to recovery, you may find it challenging to determine who would be a good fit for your support network.
- The establishment and upkeep of healthy boundaries are fundamental to leading a sober lifestyle.
- Essentially, a sober support network is a group of people you can rely on to support you in your recovery.
- Experts recommend staying single for at least a year after starting treatment.
- Whether it’s the Hope Fiend or SoberVerse lines, SOBRLIFE Clothing offers a stylish way to show off your sobriety and meet others on the same path.
- If you are struggling with triggers to abuse drugs, consider receiving professional addiction treatment from a specialist.
- Joining a softball league, for instance, lets you build camaraderie through a shared interest rather than a shared sobriety.
For many people, this involves accepting and apologizing for unethical behavior such as lying, deceiving, or even stealing. There are recovery groups for people of different religions, cultural backgrounds, and professions in addition to more general recovery groups. For example, SMART Recovery is a group that appeals to people with whom the spiritual nature of the traditional 12-Step program does not resonate. Refuge Recovery incorporates the core practices and principles of Buddhism.
You must also be patient when people don’t have the necessary skills to help you manage your recovery. Most people are unfamiliar with addiction and recovery, and as such don’t know what a recovering individual will need. It’s important that you be patient with yourself and your loved ones during this process. Depending on how long you were addicted, it might take some time for your family and friends to regain their trust in you.
- One of the easiest ways to do this is to build a healthy support network and to open up about your past experiences.
- This process entails acknowledging and apologizing for past wrongs, demonstrating consistency in actions, and serving as a positive example of the changes made.
- This will remind you that change is always possible, and you may be able to use these people as a source of inspiration for your own recovery.
- The only requirement you must meet in order to participate in these meetings is a desire to stop drinking or using addictive substances.
- Not only will this help to meet people, but this will also allow you to connect with people who share similar interests as you.
- No matter which recovery group you choose to go with, one of the most important things to do is to build new connections.
Meet With an Individual Therapist
Free to anyone who wishes to participate, Alcoholics Anonymous is known for its 12-step process and welcoming community. With so many options available, you may be wondering which one is best suited to your needs. Based on our review, seven online addiction support groups stand out sober network as being among the best. Whether it’s “casual” drinks at the office, wine at a company dinner, or beer while trying to close a deal, alcohol is a socially acceptable element of business in some places. That clarity helps you hit every “selling” point and be an effective listener.