A sober support system is an important part of recovery. This type of system can be made up of the people around a person in recovery, including their therapist, drug rehab staff, case manager, friends, and family. It’s crucial to develop a sober support system quickly.
Why?
Because these people can provide invaluable support during early sobriety. They can help you stay on track and avoid relapse. Most importantly, it’s a way to avoid feeling alone. Loneliness is a surefire way to wind up relapsing back into substance use.
Let’s explore this critically important part of recovery.
Sober Support System: What is it?
A sober support system is a network made up of friends, acquaintances, and treatment professionals. This network knows and gets you and understands where you’re coming from. A sober support system also understands the situation you’re in and why you’re trying to build a new life for yourself. Your sober support system is there for you when you’re struggling and joins in with you when you’re celebrating milestones.
Pretty much anyone in your life this describes is part of your sober support system. The people in that network include your friends, family, people you’ve met in recovery, recovery professionals, and more.
Why is a Sober Support System So Important?
The short answer is that a sober support system is an important tool for maintaining sobriety. In fact, research has shown that people in recovery who have supportive relationships are more likely to stay sober.
But let’s take a closer look at why having this type of support system is so important for recovery.
- It Offers Encouragement: When you’re in recovery, there will be good days and bad days. Your sober support system is there to encourage you on the bad days and help you celebrate the good ones.
- It Helps You Avoid Isolation: One of the most important things a sober support system does is help you avoid isolation. When you’re struggling with addiction, it’s easy to feel alone. But when you have a sober support system, you always have people to turn to.
- It Holds You Accountable: Your sober support system also holds you accountable for your actions. This is important because it helps you stay on track with your recovery goals.
- It Provides Emotional Support: Last but not least, your sober support system provides emotional support. This is crucial because addiction can be a very emotionally draining experience. Having people to lean on can make all the difference.
- It Keeps You Occupied: Having a sober support system is a great way to avoid being bored as well. With a sober support system, you’ll always have people to go do things with. Like loneliness, boredom is also a major risk factor of relapse.
How Do I Build My Sober Support System?
If you’re in recovery or considering getting sober, it’s important to start developing your sober support system as soon as possible.
First things first: if you have anyone in your social circle who is still actively abusing alcohol and drugs, give serious thought to cutting them off. This is especially important early in recovery. Friends who are still all about getting drunk, experimenting with drugs, and partying put you in real danger of relapse. You’ve worked too hard and come too far to take chances like that.
Painful as it may be (and we’ll never pretend letting friends go is easy), recovery is about starting over. Building a new sober support system is a great way to also build a new life for yourself. Here are a few tips on how to do that:
- Talk to Your Therapist: Your therapist is a great place to start when building your sober support system. They understand what you’re going through and can connect you with other people in recovery.
- Join a 12-Step Program: 12-step groups are a great way to meet people in recovery and build a sober support system.
- Attend Recovery Meetings: Recovery group meetings are another great way to meet people in recovery and build your sober support system.
- Talk to Your Friends and Family: Don’t forget to talk to your friends and family about your recovery goals. They can be a great source of support.
- Seek Out Recovery Professionals: Recovery professionals, such as counselors, case managers, and sober coaches, can also be a great help.
Sober support systems are important for recovery because they offer encouragement, accountability, and emotional support. If you’re in recovery or considering getting sober, start building your sober support system today.
How to Use your Sober Support System
Now that you know how important sober support systems are, here are a few tips on how to use yours:
- Talk, hang out with, and touch base regularly with your sober support system.
- Be open and honest with your sober support system about your struggles and successes.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your sober support system when you need it.
- Show your appreciation for your sober support system often.
- Pay it forward by supporting others in their recovery journey.
If you’re in recovery, make sure you have a strong sober support system in place. These people will be your biggest asset in maintaining sobriety. Use them often and show them how much you appreciate them.
How Sober Living Homes Help You Build a Sober Support System
If you’re looking for a place to live that will help you build a sober support system, consider sober living homes. Sober living homes are drug and alcohol-free environments where residents can live and recover together.
Sober living houses provide structure and support that can be vital in early recovery. They also offer opportunities to meet other people in recovery and build sober relationships.
If you’re interested in sober living, talk to your therapist or case manager about your options. They can help you find a sober living home that’s right for you.
Searching for a sober living home on your own is an option, too.
Find a Sober Living Home Today & Start Building a Sober Support System with SoberLivingNearYou.com!
Searching for a sober living home isn’t easy. There are tons to choose from out there and visiting this home or that home’s website doesn’t always give you the best picture of what a particular sober living home can offer.
We created SoberLivingNearYou.com in recognition of this sometimes-fraught process. With our directory site, you’ll have hundreds of sober living house listings at your fingertips. This makes finding the features you want for your needs and budget easy and efficient. You’ll be able to start building that sober support system quickly … and strengthening your recovery at the same time!
Don’t let the frustrations of a sober home search get you down. Strengthen your recovery and build a sober support system today with SoberLivingNearMe.com!
