The Importance of Socializing During Addiction Recovery

Social Support for Recovering Addicts

So, you have an addiction and you have decided to make a change in your life. You have followed a treatment, the treatment was successful and now you are recovering. Here we will discuss the importance of social support for recovering addicts.

Aristotle said that human beings are "social animals," and therefore will naturally seek the company of others as a part of our well-being. This thought is confirmed by scientists — children who experience great relationships with family and friends are more likely to be happy later on in life, and adults who have more than 10 friends (and see them regularly) are more likely to be happy than those who have fewer friends.

You may not feel like going out and socializing. Maybe you still experience withdrawal symptoms and feel irritable or anxious. You may feel guilty as well for isolating yourself from others. However, relationships with others are also essential during your recovery from an addiction. The opposite is also true: isolation will increase your risk for relapse, hence the importance of social support for recovering addicts is stressed.

Taking Time for Yourself

At one point you were attached to a certain drug or alcohol. It’s normal to experience a sense of loss when you give up the addiction. Pay attention to your emotions and feelings surrounding that loss. It’s okay to feel lonely or angry.

Look for a Support Group

You will come across people who understand better than anyone else what you are going through because they have had similar struggles. For example, consider joining one of the following:

You can also choose to work with a therapist at the same time in addiction treatment facilities.

We know that branching out into support groups can be nerve-racking, but there are several benefits that come with this:

  • It can ease feelings of loneliness.
  • It's a space to help you express your feelings, which might make you feel better mentally and emotionally.
  • It can offer insightful information and tips.
  • Attending a support group can help you improve your social skills.
  • Hearing about other peoples' experiences might offer hope.
  • The more you talk to people who have had similar experiences, the more comfortable you will become with talking about your addiction.
  • It can increase self-understanding so you are more in tune with your thoughts and emotions.
  • You can help others.
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    Working With a Therapist

    Considering the fact that stress, emotions and social problems increase the risk of relapse, it is worth working with a psychotherapist or psychologist because they help you cope better with these issues. They can do individual or group therapy and can use a special form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you how to better understand your moods and thoughts, the triggers and addictive cravings. During CBT sessions, you will learn how to replace addictive behavior with positive, much healthier choices.

    Are You Ready to Reconnect With Family and Old Friends?

    You may never feel ready, but make the decision one day to call them and have an honest conversation. Tell them you are recovering from addiction and you are in the process of rediscovering yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone who really cares about you will be happy to reconnect and see you are on your way to being healthy and happy again.

    Stay Away from Negative People

    You don’t need negative people around or those who are still addicted to drugs or alcohol. Being around these types of people can have a negative impact on your rehabilitation, and being around active addicts can also increase your chance of having a relapse. Instead, you need only supportive people during recovery. It’s perfectly fine to not answer the calls from negative people or reply to their emails.

    Also, you may want to stay away from the TV and news as well, since you might witness negative events and conversations on there. Rather, choose comedy channels. This is an easy way to avoid unnecessary negativity in your life.

    Making New Friends

    Start online if you feel more comfortable doing so, and slowly switch to meeting new friends in person, over a coffee, for dinner or for a walk by the lake. Join a new class or a fitness club, and soon you will have a great social life and social support system to help you with your addiction recovery!

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