Fight Addiction by Building a Support Network

Say Goodbye to Unhealthy Relationships

Addiction can make people form friendships with people who don’t care about sobriety, which is why, when you are trying to get sober, it is essential to say goodbye to many of those people. Say goodbye to friends who don’t support you in your recovery and make new friends who do. The first step to finding people who will help you on your journey is saying goodbye to those who won’t. Our friends have an immense influence on us and maintaining friendships with people who don’t support you can increase the likelihood of relapse.

Fix Broken Relationships

Addiction often causes people to hurt the ones who love them the most, and many of those relationships will need to be mended. Often, the family and friends you hurt in addiction are the foundation of your support network. They love you and want to see you get better, but they might need some work from you to get there. Discuss your concerns with close friends and family to resolve any issues you may have. Apologize when you need to and be upfront about how you feel. Let them know you are serious about getting better and start rebuilding those critical relationships. Recovery is tough, and you will need these people by your side on your journey.   

Ask for Help

We create support systems to help us through recovery, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. The early stages of recovery are a vulnerable time, and the chance of relapsing is high. You are going to need someone to lean on during this period, so reach out to the people around you when you need help.    Close friends and loved ones want to help you if you are working to help yourself. Ask for help and be honest about what help you need.

Find a Group

Finding a group is a great way to find a support system of like-minded people. Join a group to talk about your journey to sobriety. It can be Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or any group where you can talk about your recovery. Joining groups for activities away from drugs and alcohol is also a positive. A recreational sports league is an excellent example of a group that helps build friendships but isn’t all about recovery.

Be Patient with Yourself and Those Around You

The most challenging aspect of your sober journey is maintaining patience. Rebuilding trust and creating new friendships doesn’t happen overnight. Building a solid support system may take time. Be patient with friends, family and yourself during this time as you all adjust to the new reality of sobriety.

Building a healthy network of support is crucial during recovery. Surround yourself with people who have a positive influence on you and support you through what you are going through. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help, because those who genuinely care will be there in your time of need. FBN

By Roy DuPrez, M.Ed.

Roy DuPrez, M.Ed., is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men, ages 18 to 35, recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Back2Basics is adventure recovery, up to six months, for adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. Our clients are exposed to a weekly combination of outdoor activities and residential programming. For more information, visit https://back2basics-soberliving.com, call 928-814-2220, or email rduprez@b2badventures.com.