Let’s be honest: we need each other. People need friends in life. And this is especially true when you’re in addiction recovery. The importance of community in recovery can’t be overstated. Recovery is not a journey to go through alone. If you want to achieve long-term sobriety, you’ll need to have peer support in recovery along the way.
Community Support: Why Humans Need Other Humans
As humans, we’re wired for connection with other humans. According to the University of California, Berkeley, each of us is equipped with biological mechanisms and neural circuits in our brain that underlie our ability to empathize, cooperate, give, and love. Our brains are physically designed for reaching out to and interacting with others.
Whether you’re navigating recovery or not, relationships with others are a key aspect of a healthy life. Even if you’re introverted, you still need friends and community support. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), research suggests that stable, healthy friendships are crucial for our well-being and longevity. Just take a look at these findings:
- People who have friends and close confidants are more satisfied with their lives
- People who have friends are less likely to die from heart problems and chronic conditions
- Friendships can protect against mental health issues like anxiety and depression
- Having social connections is one of the most reliable predictors of a long, healthy, and satisfying life
Close personal relationships also provide a number of everyday benefits, too. Your friends can be there for you during good seasons and difficult ones as well. When you have community support in your corner, shares the Mayo Clinic, you experience:
- An increased sense of connection, belonging, and purpose
- More happiness and lower stress
- Greater self-confidence and self-worth
- Healthier ways to cope
- Accountability in life
The Importance of Community in Recovery
While friendships are important, loneliness and social isolation are realities for many people. And this loneliness can lead to a decline in health. According to the APA, loneliness increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, and premature death. And loneliness and social isolation can put you at risk for drug or alcohol relapse in recovery.
When you don’t have peer support in recovery, the addiction triggers and general challenges you face get harder to bear. Instead of seeking support from friends and loved ones (your community), you struggle alone. This makes you more susceptible to reverting back to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Before you know it, you’re saying “I relapsed” and wondering what happened in the aftermath.
A lack of peer support in recovery can also leave you vulnerable to mental health struggles. In time, this can contribute to the development of co-occurring disorders like anxiety, OCD, and depression that only make your addiction recovery worse.
The importance of community in recovery is also reflected in how meaningful relationships improve your journey. The general benefits of friendship listed earlier apply as well to your recovery experience. Friends and relationships can help you navigate the challenges of recovery in healthy ways. You receive regular support and encouragement, keeping you on the straight and narrow so you don’t relapse.
Peer support in recovery gives you access to people who know what it’s like to be in your shoes. You can learn from the examples of those who are further ahead in their recovery, giving you helpful advice, perspective, and ideas to apply.
Friends also provide natural accountability and motivation to make better life changes. Because you’re seeing people regularly, your recovery is more known to others. Good friends can call you out when needed if you’re not keeping up with your recovery goals.
How to Find Peer Support in Recovery
Where can you find community in life, as well as in your recovery? There are a number of difference sources that can lead to meaningful friendships, including:
- Family
- Neighbors
- Peers at work or school
- Recovery peer mentors
- Old friends you’ve lost touch with
- People you meet at social events
- People at church or other community institutions
In the process, you need to keep in mind that you want peer support in recovery that actually helps. There are those people who can be a negative influence or encourage your substance use and should be avoided.
If you’re unsure where to start in making friends and cultivating community in recovery, here are a few ways you can put yourself out there. Remember, it’s important for you to take the initiative and reach out. Don’t wait for others to contact you:
- Join a support group
- Find meetups, recreational activities, or social clubs in your community
- Volunteer at a nonprofit
- Attend religious services
- Pursue a new hobby
- Host gatherings with your neighbors
- Take a class
- Go to the gym
We’re in Your Corner
You don’t have to go through your recovery from addiction alone. Partnering with a professional addiction treatment facility can be a pivotal first step to achieving the long-term sobriety you deserve.
At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, we’re here for you every step of the way. From initial detox to residential treatment and beyond, our compassionate, expert team is in your corner. We partner with you to heal your addiction at its source and help you stay healthy long after your treatment ends. To get started, call us today.
