Most drugs have one or more characteristics that temporarily diminish anxiety or drown out negative criticism that might otherwise make socializing more difficult. Becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol for socialization can further limit an individual’s natural ability to socialize. Therefore, when the individual decides to abstain from using drugs or alcohol, they may experience even greater anxiety. Your support network will include friends, family members, professionals, and perhaps other recovering drug users and alcoholics. Together, your support network will help to provide you with encouragement so that you can remain focused on your recovery goals. Having a substance use disorder and starting recovery might feel isolating, which may affect your relationships with family and friends.

Once you are comfortable enough to open up to others, you will also meet new people who can become part of your sober support network. Substance Use for Teens Explore individualized treatment programs that help teens with drug abuse, mental health, and co-occurring conditions. Creating a sober support network will provide you with a group of people who can inspire you throughout your journey. A support network will also equip you with the practical tools to make positive, healthy choices when faced with challenging situations.

Connect With a Workout Group

Family members themselves will yell, scream, withdraw, cajole, rant, criticize, understand, n … Community clean-up days are another opportunity to get out and meet other people while helping the community.

Read our editorial sober networking to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. People new to recovery can find themselves approaching their new diet, exercise program, job, and even participation in support groups with a compulsion that echoes addiction.

Addiction Treatment & Tools Tailored to You

You might say, “I’m really proud of you,” or “I’m so happy to see you succeed.” Avoid asking questions that are too personal or focusing on the negative aspects of their substance use. Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction. A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. It may seem that relapse is the last thing that could happen to you, but the truth is they are very common for people new to recovery.

• Founded in 1976, Women for Sobriety is a recovery program geared toward women that’s based on the idea that behavior can’t be changed without first addressing underlying thoughts.
• They will need to be available to you during both the good times and the inevitable challenging episodes.
• Nobody wants to feel as if they’re criticizing a friend, but when you’re in recovery, a good friend is sometimes the person with the most willingness to step up and speak the unpleasant truths.
• You can use the app to connect with people near you who are also in recovery, find rides to support meetings, or meet others who share similar hobbies or special interests.
• Remember, it’s not always easy to make friends – and oftentimes it’s much more difficult to make lifelong friends.
• One of the easiest ways to do this is to build a healthy support network and to open up about your past experiences.

Ask for a “where and when” phone numbers list at a meeting, you will get a pamphlet with dozens of phone numbers on the back of it, giving you the ability to reach out to many new people. Get up and share in a meeting, say that you need support and would love to meet new people who are strong in their recovery. Ask for support, being assertive with your needs will ensure that they are met. Introduce yourself to the speaker, ask for their phone number, tell them you need support. People in recovery are always more than willing to help, try not to feel weird about it, everyone in 12-step programs have been where you are at and want to help you. We also recognize the importance in choosing individuals as supports who are of the same sex.