If you find yourself stuck in the never-ending rut of beginning your recovery journey, you will definitely experience days or weeks where staying motivated independently will be extremely difficult. Being caught alone in your battle for health is no way to fight an addiction to strong substances like drugs or alcohol. Having a peer support system to keep yourself accountable when you go through addiction recovery is extremely important for your own relapse prevention. Utilizing traditional methods like Alcoholics Anonymous has long been hailed as the go-to group to talk amongst a group of people who will lend an understanding ear. In recent years, our growing integration with the internet and social media has allowed that method to evolve into a powerful online community to keep people highly motivated, discover their “triggers” to prevent falling off the bandwagon, and stay determined to become fully healthy again. People from a variety of backgrounds are smart to tap into this resource and often come out of the process much stronger and knowledgeable than before.
Why peer support groups?
It’s a long road ahead to bounce back from addiction without the support from others. Although people in a peer support group may come from different walks of life and each have unique needs, all need each other as a fellow lifeline. Every person involved knows exactly what it’s like to be an addict in our current world, deal with daily temptations, and are overcoming the sadness, guilt, and remorse that comes recovery. Most are trying to rebuild their self -confidence, their relationships with friends and family, and their careers for the future. Placing yourself in such a group increases your likelihood immensely to stay in recovery. You will gain emotional support with caring mentors and informational support from seminars that teach important skills. You will also have a sense of belonging, and tips for socializing with others that don’t revolve around drugs or alcohol. One notable aspect of these opportunities include sports leagues that groups form to boost their physical health and teamwork.
Recovery stage services
No matter where you start, there are services available for different stages of your addiction recovery. Peer support groups are highly adaptable and could be catered to your pre-recovery, recovery in progress, or post-recovery time line. For example, sometimes a support group precedes a person entering their rehab treatment to help them build an organized mindset to begin making step by step lifestyle changes. If they’re already enrolled in a specific treatment program, support groups can accompany it and provide an important link to a community of people going through the same thing. If treatment is already done, a person can still join to increase their chance of preventing relapse. Even if you feel you can’t afford it or do not exactly wish to talk to a room of strangers, the support system is foundational to your overall success as a patient. Throughout each stage, while participating in each meeting, members of peer support groups will be building their leadership abilities to use in the future. These skills are vital to act a positive influence for other addicts going through recovery and being a contributing member of the community as well.
Plugging in
There’s no doubt that having a peer support group reaps enormous benefits to the body, mind, and spirit. If you have a very busy schedule and can’t find enough time to attend Alcoholic Anonymous events in person, you might want to take a look at joining online programs to digitally stay on track. No matter how large the forum is, chances are you will find someone who shares your troubles and can form a meaningful bond with you as you grow. New Age Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are now increasingly popular for people to bond over remote locations and time zones. It provides a safe space to discuss personal failures, goals, and experiences to develop into a healthy person again. If you’re interested in joining one, Family First rehab center recommends to explore the various platforms that are currently available. Facebook has many such forums and groups that are open to AA members for free, and welcome them with friendly introductions. A lot of colleges throughout the country also run discussion forums for their students to join on a weekly basis. You can also easily Google search for AA groups that suit your lifestyle and personal goals. Starting a change can be scary at first, but recovering with strength in numbers will help you win your battle!
