Ideas for Strengthening Your Sober Support Network Segue Recovery SupportSegue Recovery Sober Living Austin, TX

A workout buddy who shares knowledge of fitness and nutrition can be helpful even if you’re not comfortable with him or her knowing all the details of your recovery journey. These communities offer ample opportunities to meet new friends who will double as sober supports. The meetings have phone lists of those members who are open to providing recovery support when needed.

We want each individual in our program to see that he is not alone, that there are others he can relate to, and that sober living can be enjoyable after all. Most of the young men at Turnbridge share common interests, and our goal is to spin these interests into active realities for them. A sober network is your first line of defense against obstacles that stand in your way of continued sobriety.

Deep Breathing Exercises for Sobriety

The first thing that you’ll want to do is to make sure that you’re properly educated about substance abuse, recovery, and the future challenges that you will be facing. Everyone’s recovery is a lot different, and to be successful with your own, you need to be clear about your own goals. Positive peer pressure comes in the form of people encouraging you to make healthy decisions. This might mean reminding you to attend your meetings, encouraging you to eat healthy food, or joining you on a regular exercise routine. Regardless of how well you got along with the friends that you used with, they cannot be completely considered a good influence.

Research has shown for quite some time that a support network is important for helping people in recovery avoid relapse. It often occurs when groups or individuals pressure other people to engage in unhealthy activities, like using drugs. During a life of addiction, many people may unwittingly damage their personal relationships.

This can help you re-engage with damaged relationships

In early sober networking, it’s not always possible to go from having no support to a consistent group of friends—especially overnight. Set small, attainable goals and form a few close friendships early. If you’re invited to a gathering of people in recovery after a meeting, accept the offer and try to get to know a few people at a time. It will be less overwhelming and you’ll be able to focus on forming quality friendships that can support your recovery in the long-run. In-person communication is generally the most helpful in the early stages of recovery, but online support can be beneficial if you need an additional source of accountability. Certified peer coaches can also be contacted through the service. Sharing your recovery story with people in your professional network should be done on a case by case basis.

Please remember that building new friendships takes time, even when you both share the common goal of staying in recovery. Utilizing the communication skills you learned in rehab will help you build more meaningful connections. Honesty, empathy, accountability, and assertiveness are keys to any successful relationship. Support group meetings are often a vital part of your continuum of care following residential treatment.