DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM, RECOVERY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A SUPPORT NETWORK

Trigger warning for frank talk about addiction and recovery

DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM, RECOVERY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A SUPPORT NETWORK

Addiction is a mental disorder. It is also a disease like cancer or bipolar disorder. An addict isn't to blame for being sick. A lot of times the addict doesn't realize that anything is wrong, therefore they refuse to seek help. This can be a never ending cycle because if they don't realize they are sick they won't seek out help. I was one of those addicts. I didn't seek out help. Therefore when I realized that I was actually sick I didn't have anyone to stand beside me in my struggle for my sobriety. Getting sober alone was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do in my life.

IMPORTANCE OF A SUPPORT NETWORK

Why is a support network important if you would like to succeed in recovering from addiction? It gives you someone to be accountable to. If you are accountable to someone, having to report to them on how your day was and if you managed to stay away from your drug of choice, you are more likely to succeed. Think of it as when you were a child and had to do your homework. If your parents checked on your projects and papers pretty much daily you were more likely to do complete the work. The same goes for being accountable to someone in addiction. If you have someone checking on you constantly you won't want to let them down, to disappoint them. It's easier to stick to something if you have someone else in mind. Granted, that doesn't mean that an addict or alcoholic in recovery needs to stay clean and sober for someone else. That is never the case. They will not stay clean and sober for long if they are not doing it for themselves.

HOW TO FIND (AND KEEP) A SUPPORT NETWORK

Finding a support network in todays world of technology is easier than ever. You can have people in person that you are accountable to or you can find a support group online. There are plenty of websites that can connect you with other addicts that are actively using who are looking for help in quitting or who are actively in recovery. 7 cups has a wonderful addiction subcommunity that is very helpful and informative without judging or making you feel less of a person because you might be having a bad day or have had a relapse.

Keeping a support network can be the difficult part. Once you have reached out for help you might sometimes wish that you hadn't. That is normal. When they call or text or check on you in any other way you might not want to respond. The best thing to is to respond. These people are actively checking on you because they care about you. They care about your sobriety and about your well being. Don't push them away from your circle just because you may not be happy with what they have to say. They are only telling you what is best for your wellbeing and your long term health.

Also you need to be extremely patient with who you decide to have in your support network, and with yourself. You are not going to stop having the want to use overnight. Sometimes the urge never disappears, you just learn to cope with it. When that happens, when the urge rears it's ugly head, you pick up the phone or go online. You contact your support network. That is what they are there to do. They are there to make sure that you don't give into those urges, that you are the victor and not your illness.

LONG TERM GOALS

Setting long term goals may seem daunting at first but they are what are going to keep you clean and sober and healthy. When in the grips of an addiction you can't think outside of what is happening right that moment. When you start to recover and stay in recovery you start to realize what your illness did to yourself and those around you. You start to think clearly and you start to make long term plans for your health and your life. You may want to start a family, you may want to look for a better job. Get an education. Those are all now within your grasps now that you are no longer an addict or an alcoholic, now that you are in recovery. Don't forget to keep in touch with your support network. They are what will keep you in check, make sure that you don't fall back into the grasp of your addiction.

For more information on this topic please visit :

https://www.smartrecovery.org/5-tips-for-building-a-strong-support-network/

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/strong-support-network-keep-sober/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1: Do you think that having a support network increases your chances of staying in recovery?

2: Do you think that an addict every fully recovers?

3: Would you be willing to look for a support network if you were facing an addiction?