There’s no doubt about it – breaking an addiction is hard. But the good news is that 75% of people who try to stop their addictions find success. It might take several attempts, but recovery is possible.
Breaking an addiction is more challenging when you do it alone. Instead, many addicts find success by developing adequate support systems.
So if you want to break your addiction, you need a recovery support system. But how do you do this, and why is it important?
Keep reading to learn the benefits of a recovery support system. Additionally, this guide explains what this means and other vital facts.
How Addicts Break Addictions
A recovery support system is a crucial element for recovery. However, recovery begins with detoxification. Detoxification is the process of eliminating drugs or alcohol from a person’s body.
After that, recovery involves a series of steps. It also requires time, and addicts use various methods when breaking their addictions. Here are a few:
Seek Professional Help
Rehab facilities offer addiction treatment programs. Some specialize more in treating alcohol addictions. But others specialize in treating drug addictions.
An inpatient program is one option. This choice involves moving to the facility for several weeks or months. Conversely, an outpatient program is one you complete while living at home.
Rehabs specialize in helping people break their addictions. They assist throughout the detoxification process. Then, they educate addicts in ways that help them stop using drugs or alcohol.
Completing a rehab program is one of the best ways to stop an addiction. After all, it’s the only option that provides professional assistance. You can get addiction help today by contacting a rehab.
Attend 12-Step Programs
Many addicts also turn to 12-step programs when seeking help for addictions. A 12-step program offers support and assistance. You can find these programs in all cities and towns.
In many cases, addicts attend rehab first. Then, they seek support and help by enrolling in a 12-step program.
Cold Turkey on Their Own
Some people break their addictions without professional help. Instead, they go cold turkey at home and hope for the best. While this works for some, it’s not effective for most.
Rely on Help
Additionally, addicts turn to others for help with their addictions. They might combine several of these methods to stop their addictions. They might also seek counseling or rely on their families for support.
You can use any of these methods. Of course, you can also use others.
What Is a Recovery Support System?
When you break an addiction, you always risk the chance of relapsing. Unfortunately, relapsing is common for recovering addicts. But there are ways to reduce the chances of relapsing.
One method is through a recovery support system. But what does this mean?
A recovery support system is a group of people, groups, and services. It might be one of these things or many. The purpose is to give you the support you need during your addiction recovery.
You might understand this better by considering any difficult situation in life. For example, losing a close family member is challenging. Another example is going through a divorce.
When you face challenging situations, you need a group of people around you. These individuals provide the support you need to get through the situation. The same is true for addiction recovery.
While it’s possible to break an addiction without a support system, having one is better.Β In fact, having a support system improves your chances of sticking to a sober lifestyle.
Ways a Support System Helps You in Recovery
You can customize your support system by choosing who’s in it. But you should first understand the benefits this offers. Here are some of the top ones:
Accountability
Accountability is a term that many addicts run from during their addictions. After all, they don’t want to be accountable to anyone during an active addiction. But having accountability is helpful during your recovery.
A support system provides the accountability you need. They’re there for you if you relapse. They’re also there when you struggle or feel sad.
The primary purpose of accountability is to have at least one person to talk to about everything. You can confide in this person without fear of judgment or condemnation.
However, this person will steer you in the right direction. They’ll provide healthy advice and assistance. But you must be willing to be honest with them.
Someone to Talk to and Listen
Relationships are a vital part of every life. They provide people to talk to, and they offer a listening ear when you need it. You’ll need these things during your recovery process.
After all, going from an addiction to a sober life requires change. It might also require making amends and fixing problems caused during your addiction.
So you’ll need people in your life. In fact, having people to talk to reduces the risk of isolation. People often isolate themselves during and after addiction. It’s also common for this to happen during challenging life events.
The downside is that isolation is the opposite of what people need. You need to talk and share with others. You’ll have this ability when you have a support system.
You might also experience times when you need some encouragement. Your support system can remind you of the benefits of sobriety. They can motivate you to keep going, one day at a time.
Learn Your Triggers
Your support system is also there to guide you on your recovery path. They can help in numerous ways, including with your triggers.
For example, they can help you learn your triggers. A trigger is anything that causes your mind to turn to drugs or alcohol.
A support system helps you when you face these triggers. They’re there for you when the triggers arise, and you need someone to walk you off the ledge.
Keeps You Busy
A support system also gives you things to do. While isolation is dangerous in tough times, boredom is too. So you’ll need to occupy your time with things to stay busy.
You can do this through a strong support system. One element of a support system is group therapy. Attending group therapy provides a healthy activity for you each week.
Your support system might also include friends who invite you over for meals. These types of healthy activities are helpful for your recovery.
Community Support
Additionally, recovering addicts need to know they’re not alone. With an addiction support system, you’ll know you’re not alone. You’ll have people there offering encouragement.
You’ll also meet other recovering addicts if you attend rehab or support groups. These options provide a sense of belonging – a vital quality needed during recovery.
How to Develop an Effective Recovery Support System
Understanding what a support system is helps you learn why you need one. In addition, seeing the benefits might help you decide to build one. But how do you develop an effective system when recovering from addiction?
First, it might be helpful to begin by completing an addiction rehabilitation program. You’ll meet people there and receive help to break free from your drug of choice.
Attending rehab also opens up opportunities to find helpful resources. You can pursue these resources to build your support system.
Next, find a support group in your area. You can find these online in most cities and towns.
For example, most areas offer Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups. Others might offer Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
When you attend these groups, you can find a sponsor. A sponsor is someone that offers accountability and encouragement. Your sponsor will be there to help you through your recovery.
Additionally, you’ll feel a sense of inclusion at these meetings. After all, everyone that attends is in the same place as you.
Next, reach out to your family and friends. You might find many close friends and relatives willing to be part of your support team.
You can also join a local church, club, or organization to find meaning and purpose in your life.
After creating a support system, embrace it. Your support system is a critical part of your recovery.
Improve Your Chances of Success With a Support System
Each time you face your addiction, you improve your chances of success. So if you’re serious about stopping your addiction, you need a recovery support system.
Are you ready to seek professional help? If so, you can start by contacting a rehab center. Then, you can develop the support system you need.
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