There is almost surely a group that meets in your area at least weekly, and potentially dozens of meetings happening each week if you live in a populated area. Outdoor activities such as hiking and birdwatching are excellent sober-friendly options, promoting teamwork and community involvement. Plan outings that don’t involve drinking and go to places without ready sources of alcohol consumption.
The Importance of a Sober Support Network
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. As you establish your support network, it is important to do your part to maintain healthy relationships with those who support and encourage you. People often mistakenly assume that the people who are in their support network automatically know what they need.
How To Connect With Sober Meetings and Local Support Groups In Orange County
This is the part that will come easier for some, but for others will take all of the might and courage they have at their disposal. This is the part where you actually make the appropriate connections and put yourself out there by asking for the help you need to stay sober. This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique, and this content is to provide an overall understanding of substance use disorders.
How to Build a Sober Support Network
While you might not know what to do with it at first, embrace the call list. Try to make a connection with one person at the meeting by sending a text or making a brief phone call. A sobriety support group might be right for you if you are seeking a connection with others who are also looking to maintain sobriety, as well as resources specific to the addiction recovery process.
This goal doesn’t end after therapy but continues to your daily living and a new lease on life. It may make sense for some people to attend a 12-step or formal recovery program first and then transition to a support group. But many people who have been sober for years continue to attend AA meetings. Opening up and asking for support from loved ones may feel challenging or unsafe due to shame and social stigma.
- Let managers know how the presence of alcohol at work or work-related activities makes you feel.
- Whether a 12-step program or a support group is a better fit will depend entirely on your preferences.
- By attending these meetings, you build trust and rapport with others who understand the challenges of sobriety, encouraging you to make healthy decisions.
- They furnish you with the tools, support, and structure needed to build a solid foundation for your recovery journey.
Online addiction support groups are designed to help members successfully manage their recovery from alcohol abuse or substance use disorder. These “sober clubs” have been found to improve treatment engagement while also positively affecting alcohol or drug cravings and increasing participants’ beliefs that they can achieve their goals. But knowing these effects gives you a certain level of control over them.
Those who live in these houses rent rooms indefinitely and live a life in accordance with their responsibilities, like work and school. More than 20 million people in the United States consider themselves to be in recovery from drug or alcohol misuse, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Much of the success in recovery has to do with having a strong sober network.
Go to Support Meetings
When addicts complete drug or alcohol treatment together, they often form lasting bonds that become a key part of their support system. Of course, sober network these relationships should only be maintained if they are healthy. When an addict has an “emergency”, it often means they are about to relapse.
- While this kind of support is different from a friend group, they’re still working with your best interest at heart.
- Group therapy is facilitated by a specially trained and licensed therapist but ultimately focuses on group members helping one another through their challenges in recovery.
- During your recovery journey, you can rebuild these relationships with trusted friends and family members.
It’s designed to empower individuals and transform lives from self-destructive to positive, constructive, and enjoyable. At All Points North, our team builds social support networks at every stage of our addiction treatment programs. If you’ve graduated from treatment and are still looking to bolster your sober support network, see if your treatment center holds regular alumni meetings or alumni events that you could attend.
You will reduce the chance of relapse
Another element of sober networking is avoiding missed opportunities! The Washington University School of Medicine reported in March of this year that “alcohol use disorder is linked to 232 million missed workdays annually” in the United States. With a clear mind, you’re able to stay focused and on-topic in conversations.