If you’re moving into a sober living home, congratulations! This is an important step in your recovery journey. A positive support system is a key to maintaining sobriety. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to develop a strong support system and use it to your advantage.
You’ll make new friends who share your life goals, learn how to let go of old friends who are still using substances, and discover how to really rely on your support system in recovery.
Making New Friends in Recovery
Sober living homes are communal by nature. You’ll likely be sharing a bedroom with two, three, or even four people. The good news is you’ll likely never be lonely in a sober home. Plus, you all have one thing in common: the desire to build a lasting recovery for yourselves.
This desire goes deeper than many hobbies or shared interests. All of you have experienced a change moment where you decided to stop using drugs and alcohol and begin crafting a life free from addiction. This sort of drive tends to create lifelong bonds, which is great: You’ll be able to rely on your friends from sober living for years.
Also, sober living homes themselves help foster these friendships in a variety of ways. Many homes organize group outings, communal meals, and sober trips to amusement parks, concerts, beaches, and more!
All of these contribute to creating lasting friendships, which in turn build the kind of sober support network you can use throughout your lifelong recovery.
Why It’s Necessary to Leave Some Old Friends Behind
As you move through recovery, you’ll realize that not all of your old friends will be supportive of your decision to live sober. In fact, some may actively try to sabotage your sobriety.
This is why it’s necessary to let go of old friends who are still using substances. It doesn’t mean you have to completely sever ties with them, but it does mean distancing yourself and focusing on building new relationships with people who will support your recovery.
It can be tough letting go of old friends, especially if you’ve been close for a long time. But remember: They’re not going to be there for you when things get tough in recovery; they’re not going to help you stay sober when temptation strikes, and they’re not going to be there for you when you need someone to talk to about your sobriety.
On the other hand, your new friends from your sober living home will be there for all of those things and more. They understand what you’re going through because they’re going through it too. And that’s the kind of positive support system you need in recovery.
Relying on Your Support System in Recovery
One of the most important things to remember about your support system is that it’s just that: a system of support. It’s not meant to fix all your problems or do all the work for you.
You still have to put in the effort to stay sober. You still have to make smart decisions and use good judgment. But having a supportive group of friends will make all of those things easier.
Think of your support system as a safety net. It’s there to catch you when you stumble, help you get back on your feet when you fall, and to encourage you to keep going even when things are tough.
So don’t be afraid to rely on your support system in recovery. These are the people who have your back, no matter what. Use them wisely, and they’ll help you build a strong foundation for lifelong sobriety.
Where Else Can You Find Your Support System? 5 Great Places to Look
Your sober home isn’t the only source for building a positive support system. There are plenty of other people you can discover who you can lean on if you know where to look.
Check out places such as:
- Treatment Centers: If you’re in a sober living home, it’s very likely you’re either still in (or a recent graduate of) a drug rehab or addiction center. Much like sober living homes, these places easily introduce you to potential new friends. Going through drug rehab is a real bonding experience, too.
- Support Groups: 12-Step and other support groups offer another opportunity to meet recovery friends. For many people, these groups operate as real social lifelines, letting people in recovery know they’re not alone in their efforts to build a new life for themselves.
- Sober Places: Any alcohol or drug-free space is a great place to meet fellow sober people. Even your local coffee bar can be a great place to hang out in and meet other sober people. With sober curious Gen Z leading the charge, it’s easier to find places like sober bars to visit, too. Don’t forget about the increasing number of sober events to attend, too.
- Online Forums: There are plenty of recovery and sober groups on Facebook and Reddit. Although nothing replaces face-to-face contact (even in our troubling times), being able to interact with others online can help you feel less lonely and add to your positive support network.
- Business Events: Sober living is all about practicing and relearning social skills damaged by addiction, and part of that is looking for work. Although some business events feature alcohol, job fairs and other events are often alcohol-free. This is a twofer: you can walk away from these events with A) new sober contacts and B) a potential career.
There’s always a place to turn to when building your positive support network. With a little effort, you’ll be able to create a network you can turn to when things get rough, preserving your recovery and helping you get past life’s obstacles.
Find Your Sober Living Home Today with SoberLivingNearYou.com!
Finding a sober living home isn’t easy – there are thousands of sober homes to choose from out there and finding one that’s a good match for your personality, budget, and needs isn’t always easy.
That’s why we created SoberLIvingNearYou.com. The internet’s largest directory of sober living homes, SoberLivingNearYou.com makes finding your sober home as easy as signing up and starting your search.
Start building your sober support system with SoberLivingNearYou.com today!
