Building A Sober Support Network

Loosid’s new Recovery Voices features in depth and compelling conversations with subject matter experts in the field of addiction as well as inspirational turnaround stories that breathe hope into the hopeless. The Loosid App was designed to not only show the world that sober doesn’t have to be boring but to help this distinctive community of nearly 144 million Americans realize they’re far from alone. Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous have sponsors available for guiding newcomers in early recovery. A sponsor not only provides continual access to input and guidance, but having a sponsor helps you remain accountable.

However, it’s best to take a breath and let your loved ones work at their own pace. Utilize the simple daily achievements that take moments, yet last all day to help you through the tough times. This is a great place to be when your typical support is sleeping, or when there isn’t a meeting going on. If you don’t https://ecosoberhouse.com/ end up liking your sobriety, your misery can refunded in full. The important part is to be persistent and to remain a positive example of the changes that you have made. Over time, your family and friends will recognize that you are not the same person that you were when you were struggling with addiction.

You may also want to include people in your network who aren’t necessarily familiar with your whole recovery story, but will help you develop healthy habits that promote sobriety. For example, studies have shown regular exercise reduces the risk of relapse. A workout buddy who sober networking shares knowledge of fitness and nutrition can be helpful even if you’re not comfortable with him or her knowing all the details of your recovery journey. Please remember that building new friendships takes time, even when you both share the common goal of staying in recovery.

Regardless of how well you got along with the friends that you used with, they cannot be completely considered a good influence. Once you enter recovery, it’s important to surround yourself with people who are healthy, positive influences. Unfortunately, this creates a challenge for people who are attempting to enter recovery. They may feel that their relationships are damaged beyond repair, or they may feel that the people they would typically rely on for social support may not be available or willing to assist them. Individuals from all genders, ethnicities, socio-economic levels, educational backgrounds, and occupations struggle with addiction. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health , in the U.S. over 20 million people had a substance use disorder.

  • Recovery groups provide environments in which you may connect with other people who are in recovery.
  • There are lots of reasons that it’s important to have a social support network.
  • Furthermore, there are likely trust issues and raw feelings as a result of those times.
  • People can interact within the global recovery community in any geographic region.
  • However, they should all encourage your decision to enter recovery.
  • Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers.

You can sign up to receive a newsletter, join the club, find support groups, get mentoring, and so much more. Café Re acknowledges that it is very difficult to quit drinking by yourself.

Robs House Sober Living

Anything you enjoy doing that decreases your stress levels will help put you in contact with other people who are also living a positive life. Having people personally engaged in your recovery helps keep you accountable.

sober networking

Whether that’s a quick text or setting aside a few minutes to go outside, take a call, get some air, and regroup from everything going on — having that outlet can really help. Another strategy for navigating these events is to ask someone who knows what you’re going through to be your plus one, if bringing a guest is possible. • Within a sober network, you are given the opportunity to redevelop sober social skills. You relearn how to communicate with others, and practice forming relationships once again.

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It provides a safe space for sharing your experiences and challenges, while also offering a new network to connect with as you try to live a sober lifestyle. Many of the online groups here offer 24/7 access to an online community and resources and tools that can help motivate and guide you. Best of all, most of these online sobriety groups require no membership fees. Which one you choose will ultimately depend on your personal needs and goals. The best way to meet other sober individuals is to attend support meetings for individuals who have gone through addiction. These can be 12-step meetings or alternatives, but make sure they fit your personal recovery needs. Be friendly and talk to others at the meetings (in-person or online) to make friends and build your sober support network.

Others have may feel discouraged because they do not have supportive friends and family members, or they may have difficulty meeting new people. Finding support while you’re dealing with addiction or alcohol use disorder can be challenging and overwhelming. Friends and family members may offer help but a structured group or program can be more effective in providing a plan that can keep you on track toward your goal of recovery.

S & S Positive Pathways

Research has shown that support groups and 12-step programs are effective for increasing alcohol abstinence and may even be more effective than other treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. If there comes a time when you are slipping back into your old habits, your sober support network will be able to point out the behaviors. This way, you can be aware of a potential relapse before it happens. Being aware of this can help you stop relapse in its tracks and get back on the course of your healing.

Your first instinct might be to make friends with everyone who comes your way, but this is not always the best idea. Remember, it’s not always easy to make friends – and oftentimes it’s much more difficult to make lifelong friends. One of the most important things to do when building your support network is learn how to rebuild and repair these relationships. The people closest to you are often the ones who are hurt the most by your addiction. And, these are often the people who will be most important in your support group. One of the most interesting things that is noted by many addiction counselors is that many substance abusers initially begin using substances because they help to encourage social behavior.

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Also bear in mind that a person’s experiences with sobriety are somewhat relative. You might meet someone with thirty years of sober living behind them, and yet sometimes that person will have a worse attitude than someone with only a third as much experience. With all of this constant flux, how does one build and maintain something solid? Start by surrounding yourself with people who take sobriety seriously. Make an effort to put your hand out at meetings and introduce yourself. Look for the people who have some time and consider finding a sponsor.

Members are asked to wake up 15 minutes early each day, go over the 13 acceptance statements, and think about each one. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site.

sober networking

LifeRing does not require you to follow a step-by-step program; instead, you design your own program, as only you know the best path forward and the changes you need to make. With Loosid, this includes “Boozeless Guides” that direct you to places you can go where there will be no pressure to drink alcohol, such as restaurants, events, and travel spots.

When you were going through inpatient rehabilitation treatment, you probably had various opportunities to build the foundation for a sober network. Group counseling, recreational activities, 12-Step programs—these and other methods are designed specifically to help you recognize you’re not alone in this journey and how others relate to your experiences. A veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, Max is continuing his education in healthcare administration. Max began his career in the addiction field working as a group facilitator and teacher, developing and delivering a successful faith-based curriculum in a long-term residential treatment setting. Repairing broken relationships requires honest, sincere apologies, remaining open, and listening to the other party. Knowing that you are sincere about your recovery may allow the other person to be receptive to communicating with you and eventually trusting you again.

Fresh Start

But if a bond develops naturally at your home group, and you both have more than a year, then you might consider exploring that. You likely consider that person to be a part of your support network already. Just don’t rush into things and risk creating tensions within your home group if things go south. Having a sober network of friends or supportive environment around you can lead to greater recovery outcomes, so this is important advice to consider. While research on the benefits of online support programs for substance use disorders is limited, online communities are becoming a prominent fixture in mental health care. Much like mental health forums, online sobriety support groups can supply accessible and stigma-free aid.

Social support groups help to reduce the stigma against substance abuse. One of the greatest challenges that you’ll face in recovery is seeking and finding new opportunities. Having a strong social group can help improve your chances of finding employment, helping you achieve your educational goals, and connecting with other recreational and cultural opportunities. Shifting the venue for networking activities and work events to a place not centered on alcohol such as a driving range or bowling alley. How recovering addicts can handle gatherings that are essential opportunities to network and build relationships.

  • Studies show people are happier, healthier, and more productive when they are part of a community.
  • Our integrated treatment model addresses the spiritual, physical and mental components of addiction.
  • Club Soda bills itself as the “Mindful Drinking Movement” and was designed for those who want to cut down, stop briefly, or quit drinking altogether.
  • Remember that not everyone you meet is going to become a lifelong friend.
  • If the struggle of addiction has become too much for you and you are seeking a Los Angeles rehab facility, consider giving Ocean Recovery a call today.

Select family and friends who are 100% supportive of your recovery. They will need to be available to you during both the good times and the inevitable challenging episodes. As a member of the LGBT community, I sometimes have sobriety-related concerns that are difficult to share with my heterosexual friends. “Our traumas run so deep that we often feel stuck, as if we will never find solutions to the struggles we face. So yes, we drink, and if anyone were in our shoes, they would probably drink too.” These are the words that begin Sober Black Girls Club’s mission, and they’re right. The traumas faced by the Black community, and women in particular, are many.

Loosid Community brings folks in your city together to participate in wildly entertaining alcohol-free events and activities. Women for Sobriety supports any woman seeking to have a new life free from drugs and alcohol. They offer support groups both online as well as in person, and have volunteers who do one-on-one support over the phone. It’s a great place to connect with fellow ladies for some support in sobriety.

Have A Support System In Place

The forums of Sober Recovery are a great place for people with substance use disorder to find assistance and helpful information. The community has more than 168,000 people who are recovering from substance use disorder and/or codependence, as well as their friends and family. This subreddit is an extremely welcoming community for anyone who wants to ask for advice, share their experiences, and stories or simply ask for encouragement about trying to quit or cut back on alcohol.

Why Sober Social Apps?

Other members of your support network might be able to help you make amends in due time, when the trust has started to grow back. We aren’t saying that you need to become the perfect model of sobriety before you can begin building your support network. All we are saying is that if you want your support network to truly thrive, then you need to work on embodying certain qualities that will ultimately make your new friendships much stronger. You may not always be perfect at it, but strive to make progress rather than perfection.