Sober Living Chicago
When an addict finally comes to the conclusion that they need to get treatment for their disease, they know that real recovery is going to fall squarely onto their shoulders. While it is true that making it all the way through addiction recovery does require a certain measure of individual fortitude, nobody has to go through the process completely alone. In fact, here at Stairway to Freedom Sober Living, we emphasize the importance of building a strong support system for life after the treatment facility, since that is so integral to long-term sober living.
In fact, there are a few very important reasons why good support systems are so essential. These include:
They Hold You Accountable
While everybody in recovery likes to believe that they have the willpower to experience sober living without a constant watchdog, the truth is that a little accountability goes a long way toward long-term success. And this isn’t just accountability in terms of ensuring you don’t fall back into old habits; on your way out of recovery, you will set goals for yourself in life after addiction, and supportive friends and family members can help make sure you continue to strive toward those goals.
They Serve as Positive Motivation
Beyond accountability, a strong support system also is going to do a great job at keeping you motivated as you strive toward those goals. It is very likely that you will need a little extra push finding a reasonable job or making amends with people you may have hurt, especially considering how frustrating some of these things can be to complete. Having someone to help push you to complete treatment, achieve your goals toward sobriety, and become the better person you know you can be are great reasons to put together a strong support system.
They Lower Social Anxiety
Many people got started using alcohol or drugs in the first place because they experienced some measure of social anxiety, but once those drugs take control of your life that social anxiety becomes exponentially more daunting. Support friends or family members can accompany you to certain social situations in recovery you help lower that social anxiety, which hopefully also lowers the potential for relapse.
They Remind You That You’re Not Alone
Perhaps most importantly is the reminder that you are not alone throughout the process of recovery. This just isn’t something that recovering addicts should have to do by themselves, which means a system of support is absolutely essential for having the most successful recovery experience possible. These people are rooting for you to succeed, and using that positivity to remind yourself that you’re not alone significantly raises your chances of enjoying long-lasting sober living.
Here at Stairway to Freedom Sober Living, we want to see recovering addicts make their way back into the world with as much sustained success as possible. Clearly, putting together a strong support system is a tremendous help in making sure that happens.