When you completed treatment, it may have felt like you had to start over with exploring friendships. Along with learning how to live without substance use, you were encouraged to form new connections. It may seem silly to need to make new friends. However, doing so could be the difference between long-term recovery and a potential relapse.
This blog post will dive into what to look for in friendships, how to develop healthy coping skills, and how to find friendships as an alumni at The Guest House.
Why Are Friendships Important in Recovery?
In recovery, it can be problematic to spend a significant amount of time with people who are using addictive substances. While these friendships can support your sobriety, just being around them can be triggering. Healthy connections create a foundation for recovery, and without healthy coping skills, you will struggle with healthy connections.
It is important to have a strong support system to protect you when recovery gets tough. If you find yourself separating from your old friends and exploring friendships centered around sobriety, it may feel like an uphill battle. However, with an alumni program, you are guaranteed to be around like-minded people who can help you grow and soar in recovery.
How Do I Explore Friendships in Recovery?
While you understand the need to make friends, doing so can be easier said than done. Especially if you struggle with being an introvert, the experience of branching out can be stressful. You may be able to find connections with people who were successfully discharged from the program alongside you. These humans have watched you explore recovery and grow. They may be the types of friends you want to have during recovery.
The following can be some ways to explore new friendships:
- Meet sober friends at 12-Step meetings or a smart recovery program.
- Volunteer to explore friendships.
- Get online and search for sober gatherings in your area.
- Join an alumni program at The Guest House.
Further, it’s a good idea to try to identify what you desire when exploring friendships. Not everyone has the same requirements, and you can be picky about whom you allow into your friend circle. Be selective when choosing people to be on your journey with you.
What Should I Look for When Exploring Friendships?
You probably have had some not-so-good friendships and some amazing ones. Knowing the characteristics of amazing friendships can help you with exploring relationships in the present. Friendships make life more meaningful and are good for the soul. Great friends offer emotional connection and accountability, and they make you feel loved. These experiences are not only good for recovery but for your mental health and social well-being. This is why exploring friendships is so important for your recovery.
It is important to your recovery to look for friendships that will bring out the best version of yourself. Some of the qualities you may want to look for are:
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Sobriety
- Dependability
- Trustworthiness
- Accountability
- Empathy
When you have good friends, life is more manageable and you feel connected and celebrated for who you are. In recovery, it can be hard to practice exploring friendships due to a lack of trust in others.
Finding Fulfillment Through Exploring Friendships
Building meaningful friendships takes a lot of work and dedication. You must be vulnerable with your feelings, honest, open, and supportive. Just as you are exploring friendships, so are others. To have a friend, you have to be a friend.
Furthermore, you have to learn to trust your gut when you feel like someone is not a good fit for you. Friendships are not just about the other person but what you are experiencing too. If it doesn’t feel right, then follow how you feel. This approach can also help you to foster self-awareness, which is vital for recovery.
The struggle is worth it. When you know the desirable qualities of a friend, you can connect with those types of people and have more support during tough times. Few things can help you more than positive connections during recovery.
Where Do I Go to Explore Friendships?
There is hope to explore friendships at The Guest House as an alumni. It can be difficult to practice healthy habits when you are on your own. As an alumni, you will never be on your own. There will always be someone with whom you can connect. This can include supportive staff members or peers. We know that exploring friendships can be difficult in recovery.
The Guest House makes exploring friendships easier. We will guide you every step of the way. Of course, we understand the struggles inherent in recovery. As you continue on your journey, we want to help you become the friend to others you’d like to be. Additionally, we can help you recognize qualities and characteristics of the friendships you desire. All of this can be explored through individual or group counseling. Whatever you need, we are here for you!
Perhaps you are finding yourself needing positive support in your recovery, and you have no idea what to do next. Exploring friendships may be challenging when you don’t know how to pull that off. At The Guest House, we try to make the process of finding connections as simple as possible for you. We understand that you are stressed out and have a lot of worries on your plate. Therefore, all you have to do is give us a call at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about our alumni program. If you or someone you know is struggling with exploring friendships, please do not wait. Give us a call today.