Recovery isn’t always a happy ending for people. Addiction can be tame or addiction can be detrimental. People lose jobs, homes, children, possessions, and relationships. Many people come into recovery without anyone supporting them or rooting for them. Most are likely to have at least one family member, friend, or even stranger, telling them: you can do this. After many disappointments, relapses, stealing, lying, worrying, and desperation, people give up. Therapists and psychological professionals are in disagreement as to whether the answer for healthy boundaries with a loved one who is addicted is to walk away entirely. There is a fine line for parents, family members, and friends, between enabling and supporting. Sadly, many find themselves alone, doing recovery for the first, or maybe fifteenth time, on their own.
Family of origin, meaning the parents we were born to and the family we were born into, don’t always end up being our family. Miraculously, through recovery, many people find supportive friends who feel like family. Love, support, encouragement, healthy boundaries, celebrations, respect, help, leadership- we learn to embody and become all these things in recovery. In addition, we learn to unconditionally be present for others like us- those who suffer and earnestly try to recover.
Choosing a support group of core people you can trust in hard times, rejoice with in good times, and rely on all the time, is important to creating a meaningful recovery.
Have A Common Goal: Staying Sober
When the clock strikes midnight and your new day begins, you have a challenge: make it till midnight again, without picking up a drink or a drug. Choose people who are as committed, if not more, than you are to staying sober and utilizing recovery for total transformation. Look for the winners! If there are people who inspire you, seek them out and ask to hang out one day.
Listen To Your Intuition
Our brain areas which regulate decision making, judgment, and rationalization are impaired when we abuse drugs and alcohol. Overtime our intuition comes back. The little voice inside of our hearts and minds which tells us what is right and what is wrong for us can be good at helping us avoid people who will lead us to relapse instead of recovery.
Friendships Take Work
It’s easy to call someone a friend and never see them! What kind of a friendship is that? Take the time to invest in building a relationship, even if it turns out you are going to behest friends anyway. Making the time to be around people helps you get to know them better, connect, and learn bout one another.
Lakehouse Recovery Center encourages clients to develop a support network and community of friends to make recovery more meaningful. We host fun recovery support meetings on our boat as we cruise beautiful Lake Sherwood as well as take clients to outside meetings. Call us today for information on our residential treatment programs: 877.762.3707.