Support Systems

“Surround yourself with people who don’t just ask how you are doing. Surround yourself with people who make an effort to make sure they are part of the reason you are doing well.” This quote by Jennae Cecelia rings true across the board in life and is especially true for anyone in recovery. It is a known fact that recovery is a long road with highs and lows. You can’t avoid all the lows and that can stress you out and put you at risk of relapse. However, having a support system makes recovery manageable. Surrounding yourself with a healthy set of friends and family who support you and help you through this new phase of life will help you to realize these five things: Facing challenges aren’t as difficult. When you are faced with a challenge, you might become overwhelmed and stressed. These feelings might trigger your unhealthy reaction to drinking or doing drugs. Having people to rely on helps you handle the situation. Their insight and assistance make a complicated and emotional situation seem manageable.

Friends help lower anxiety in social situations. You might have started using alcohol or drugs to reduce your social anxiety, but it took over your life and caused more anxiety. Having a friend or family member with you in a social setting helps reduce the stress of being alone or feeling awkward.

Family and friends keep you in check. Sometimes you become too confident in recovery or fall back in old behavior patterns, which increase your risk of relapse. A loved one provides valuable insight into your behavior and that can help you address the issues.

You have your own personal cheering section. Having loved ones who support your recovery is a positive thing, especially when you hit a rough patch. They can empower you to work through the issues that are keeping you down.

Your confidence and self- esteem grow. It feels good to have people who want to be around you and who care for success. Their presence and active role in your recovery can boost up confidence and self-esteem that alcohol and drugs chopped down.