The Power of Groups and Community in Relapse Prevention
Overcoming addiction is no easy feat. It’s even harder on your own. If you’ve already gone through a recovery process and you’re on the other side, chances are you had some kind of help. Whether it was a therapist, support group, family members, or your community, there were likely times when you relied on others to get you through difficult moments.
Once you’ve overcome that addiction, however, the support can’t stop. The power of groups and communities in relapse prevention is strong and important. Relapse is a dangerous, yet common risk. Surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference.
A Reminder That You’re Not Alone
One of the best things you can do, even after recovery, is to attend support groups. Your journey is far from over, and you can share that with others. Many people who have overcome addiction still attend support groups for a variety of reasons.
First, you can serve as a beacon of hope for those just beginning their journeys. Second, you can also look back at where you were, and how far you’ve come.
Connecting with others who are in the same stage of your journey is also important. You can share struggles and learn how to work through them together. Knowing that you aren’t the only one fighting can make a big difference in how you feel and your motivation to stay on the right track.
Leaning On Your Personal Support Group
Of course, you’re not going to be in a recovery group 24/7. Your family members and friends will be the most influential and important people in your life when it comes to relapse prevention.
The people closest to you are also the ones who know you best. Not every moment will be easy, and when things become difficult and dark, they are the ones who will be there to help you cope in positive, healthy ways.
Your family members and friends care about you. The last thing they want is for you to experience a relapse and go down that path again. You never have to feel like a burden for leaning on people you love. They want to help. They want what’s best for you.
Discovering Your New Identity
You’re not the same person you were before. Going through addiction recovery should have helped you to see that. Now, it’s time to live it out.
You can do that by leaning on your community. It might be time to make new friends and develop new social connections, especially if your old friends were triggering or made your recovery harder. Becoming immersed in different communities can help you to decide who you want to be and how you want to move forward. That might include developing new hobbies or starting a new job. Those things are important, but it’s the people involved in them that will ultimately help you stand firm in that identity and avoid a relapse.
If you’ve put in the work and gone through the recovery process, you should already be giving yourself a pat on the back. Now, however, a different type of work begins. The fact that you’re reading something like this and want to be proactive in preventing relapse is also important and should provide some reassurance. You’re on the right track and you have the right mindset to stay healthy and sober.
It’s just imperative that you don’t do it on your own.
If you’re looking for another level of support in relapse prevention, feel free to contact me. We can talk about what you’re feeling and what you might be struggling with, working through any underlying issues that can help you avoid turning back to substance abuse.