The Importance of a Sober Support Network
A Sober Support Network Can Provide You with Encouragement, Confidence, and Accountability in Recovery.
In your days of active addiction, you probably had a group of “using buddies,” the people you met before or after school, on weekends, or at social gatherings to drink with or get high. Your social group alters dramatically during recovery, so rather than surrounding yourself with people who encourage your drug usage, try to surround yourself with people who encourage your sobriety and support your drug-free lifestyle.
What is a sober support network?
A sober support network is one of the most important tools you can have while in recovery. They are a strong and encouraging group of friends that help you transition away from a life of addiction. They are encouraging and supportive of your journey, understand when you have a rough day, and help provide advice and guidance once you have completed treatment. This network of friends should respect your values, ambitions, and decisions to live without substance use.
Your support network might include friends, acquaintances you met in AA or NA, family members, others recovering from drug and alcohol use, and professionals involved in your recovery.
Why creating a sober support network is important
Creating a sober support network has a number of benefits, including:
Surrounded by like-minded people: It is important to not be isolated when you’re in recovery. When you create a network of like-minded people, they will help encourage you to stay sober and clean and help you develop healthy, positive relationships that are conducive to recovery.
Increased hope: Knowing that you are not alone in your recovery and that others in similar situations have gone on to lead healthy, productive, and sober lives can provide optimism for your own journey.
Reduced stigma about SUD: Having a group of friends who have gone through similar challenges as you can help you, and others, realize that those who have suffered from addiction are just regular people. This can help ease the stigma and guilt you may experience or feel.
Increased self-esteem: Having a group of people who you enjoy spending time with can help increase your sense of belonging and self-confidence, leading to positive results in your life and recovery.
Opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings: Having a support network who understands your challenges or have gone through them personally can provide a safe outlet for you to share your thoughts and feelings. This can be extremely therapeutic and helpful while in recovery.
Relapse monitoring and accountability: If you find yourself engaging in old behaviours, or contemplating it, a strong support network can help identify these patterns and hold you accountable to your recovery. This can help you avoid relapse and remind you that there is a group of people invested in your wellbeing.
Increased opportunities: Once you have completed rehab, you may find it difficult to integrate back into the community. A support network can provide you with opportunities for employment, education, housing, and recreation.
Positive peer pressure: Positive peer pressure can help you continually make positive and healthy decisions, even when it is hard. By having a support network that wants to see you succeed, you can have encouragement to eat healthy, go to meetings, get exercise and fresh air, and engage in healthy and positive activities that support your recovery.
Ways to meet and create a sober support network
Here is a list of ways you can meet and build a sober support network to help encourage your recovery:
Meet people at an addiction treatment program
Repair damaged friendships and family relationships
Take a class, like yoga, cooking, or pottery
Meet people in a sober living housing program
Connect with coworkers
Join a sober sports league
Go to 12-step meetings
You should never have to walk the road to recovery alone.