Here are some examples of classes that you could take to help speed along your recovery. It’s important to practice the skills of discernment, especially when you are working with friends and family. Encourage your support network to learn more about addiction and the challenges that you are facing. A sober support network is a group of people you can rely on during your recovery. Amanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse.

Even if you get along with these people great, they will always be the risk that you will become triggered and relapse because of their use. One of the toughest choices that a recovering individual must make is to distance themselves from people using drugs and alcohol. Your support network will include friends, family members, professionals, and perhaps other recovering drug users and alcoholics. Together, your support network will help to provide you with encouragement so that you can remain focused on your recovery goals.

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Sharing your recovery story with people in your professional network should be done on a case by case basis. Although a substance use disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, you want to be sure that the people you are confiding in will be discrete. That being said, trusted coworkers or professional acquaintances can be a valuable part of your sober support network by helping you get your career back on track.

Sober living houses can offer recovering addicts a safe way of returning to everyday life while still offering the support and stability they found in treatment. So long as you’re following the rules and paying your way, a sober living facility can assist you as long as you need to find a place to call your own. As the Medical Director, Mark works with the staff to coordinate the appropriate level of care for each individual client. What he has found to be most rewarding about working in the sober networking addictions treatment field is being able to help suffering addicts and alcoholics to realize their fullest potential. Large or small, the majority of communities have 12-Step groups that provide a touchstone of support. Some peer groups may be more to your liking than others, so it’s important to stay open-minded and try a few meetings in order to find the right fit. Another type of community support group, SMART Recovery, is an alternative to the 12-Step model which other people prefer.

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You need to stay focused on developing healthy lifestyle habits and building a sober identity for yourself before you worry about finding a significant other. Your relationships with family members may be somewhat strained because of your actions when you were actively using. However, these individuals are likely to be heavily invested in your recovery. Assuming they are not actively using addictive substances themselves, they want to see you sober. Letting them play a role in supporting your recovery can be an important step towards rebuilding trust. 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.

• If you’re opening a sober living home, you may be wondering how best you can support your fellow recovering addicts.
• Rehab centers often offer couples and family counseling and are typically able to educate the people who surround individuals who have struggled with substance abuse.
• Creating a substance-free lifestyle starts with your decision to discontinue unhealthy habits and gains momentum through the support of a loving sober support network.
• Now, it stands to reason that you’re going to be constructing your support network primarily to include other people in recovery.
• Judy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland, and a National Certified Counselor.
• Also bear in mind that a person’s experiences with sobriety are somewhat relative.

However, this does not mean that they would be unwilling to support someone who is in recovery. Most likely, they would be excited to meet someone who is engaging in one of their favorite hobbies in an attempt to remain sober. 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. While this might be uncomfortable at first, this also shows that you are willing to repair the damage done by your addiction. Acknowledging your past behavior and making amends for it also proves to your friends and family that you have become a different person.

How Do I Go About Getting Sober Supports

If you live in the Southeast, you can also join continuing care community groups. Willingway’s primary goal is to provide a supportive environment to people in recovery. Mental health experts believe having a sense of belonging among people with shared interests or experiences is a form of preventative medicine. You may have a single collective, such a weekly volleyball league or a monthly book club. Or you may have multiple circles of influence—such as a spiritual gathering, a jogging group, and a professional association—you interact with on a regular basis. Even someone with the most introverted personality can find a small group of like-minded people to share common views. Being involved, feeling as though you matter, and having a support system—every person thrives when these elements are present.

• Therefore, when the individual decides to abstain from using drugs or alcohol, they may experience even greater anxiety.
• These activities will help you meet other sober individuals and extend your support network.
• People who know you well and understand your recovery history can help keep you accountable by letting you know when they see behaviors that suggest a potential for relapse.
• Activities like yoga, deep breathing and meditation help some people quiet their minds and relax while others prefer turning to traditional faith traditions or prayer.
• Giving back also keeps you busy and keeps your mind off substance use.
• Of these people, 14.5 million struggle with alcohol abuse, known as Alcohol Use Disorder .