Your recovery has been an amazing journey. You worked hard, faced your fears, took on challenges, and came out on the other side happy and healthy. There were probably moments where you questioned your choices, your path, and those around you. You made it, and now you are living a sober lifestyle.
One thing that many benefit from is giving back after recovery. Giving back can look different for everyone. What makes you feel great may be different from what makes someone else feel good. That is perfectly normal and acceptable. Take time to analyze your recovery and what form of giving back will be beneficial for you. Here are a few different ways that you can consider giving back during your journey of recovery.
Giving Back to Family and Friends
You received a lot of love and support when you decided to take the big step of getting help for your addiction and mental health issues. Giving that support back to your loved ones is important and probably very appreciated. If someone you know is struggling, lend your love and support. You know firsthand how necessary support is, so do not hesitate to help others.
Sharing Your Experiences
A great way to give back is to share your story. Talk about the progress you have made, the hurdles you have overcome, and the milestones you have hit. Give others who are still struggling hope to keep fighting; it’s very powerful and emotional.
Being able to talk about your recovery process may also help you. Remember to talk about both the good and the bad. Giving a realistic picture can give people a better idea of what to expect. You probably remember only too well how nervous you were taking that big unknown step into treatment. You can help someone else feel better while they are taking that same step.
Volunteering Your Time
Volunteering your time to a cause you’re passionate about is a great way to give back. Having causes that you feel strongly about can have a great impact on your mental health. We can feel good about ourselves knowing we are helping a cause.
Whether you face mental health challenges, a past filled with addiction or trauma, or physical ailments, it can be easy to fall into negativity. It is hard work to maintain sobriety and your mental health. For some people, this can feel like a constant effort. Having something in your life that is separate from your recovery is a great way to live a full life that brings you pride and happiness.
Supporting Others Going Through Treatment
With your experiences, one of the best ways you can give back is by supporting others in treatment. You know the stress and worry that comes with going to rehab. You also know what life is like post-treatment. Learning to navigate an entirely new world without your substance of choice is a lot. Lend your experience and advice if you connect with someone you feel may be open to your words and experiences.
Supporting others is a wonderful way to help you stay within the recovery community as you journey through sobriety. Surrounding yourself with people who understand you and your journey is vital. Not only are you helping them by giving support and advice, but in reality, they are helping you on your journey as well.
Giving Back to Yourself
Recovery is tough. Maintaining your sobriety is tough. Make sure to take the time to acknowledge how well you have done and how far you have come. You are probably not the same person you were the day you walked into treatment. That is a great accomplishment and something to be proud of.
Some people respond best to rewarding themselves in some way. Maybe there is a vacation you have really wanted to take or an activity you have wanted to do. Look at giving back to yourself as a reward and as a way to say “good job” to yourself.
So often, we fail to acknowledge how well we have done, how much we have accomplished, or how difficult our journey has been. We are great at acknowledging others’ success and showing support to our loved ones; try to remember to treat yourself just like you would a friend. Show yourself support and love. Tell yourself how great your accomplishment was or how far you have come since the day you decided to seek treatment and face your mental health. Be your own loudest cheerleader.
Giving back is a terrific thing for everyone to do, regardless of their background. For those of us in recovery, giving back is even more meaningful and special. Giving back can help us to stay connected to the recovery community, where we can make friends and find support. Having peers that can not only support us but also understand us and our journey is a powerful thing. We all need support, and some days that help may be much more intensely needed. Recovery is challenging. You have done a great job so far, but often many people need continued support through a long-term recovery plan. There is no shame in saying that you need or want more support as you move through sober living. Here at The Guest House, we are ready to help you regardless of where you are in your recovery. Call us today to learn more about our treatment options at (855) 483-7800.