Why You Should Consider a Sober Support Group
There’s a lot of value to be had from belonging to a good community. Having friends to talk to when times are tough, when you have a joy to share or when you just don’t want to be alone is a huge gift that helps many get through their day to day lives.
This remains true when considering the benefits of a sober support group. A group like this not only offers companionship, but it also gives an understood sense of relatability. No matter what your individual struggles with sobriety look like, you all understand that you’re there to see, hear and love each other. And that can be not just encouraging, but highly motivating.
What is a sober support group?
A basic support system is any group of people (could be family, friends, close coworkers, members of your church, etc.) on whom you can rely. You trust them to have your best interests in mind and to desire good outcomes for you in all you do.
A sober support group is much the same, although the focus remains mostly on living a life of sobriety after battling addiction of some kind.
Sober support groups can take a variety of forms, and may be participated in during and after addiction treatment. They may take place in the structure of a 12-step program, or in outpatient meetings that continue on after inpatient addiction treatment has concluded.
No matter how they’re conducted, they offer community in the form of a group of people all striving for the same thing — sobriety.
The benefit of a support group for sobriety
In addition to community and friendship, support groups have a number of benefits to consider.
1. They don’t cost anything
Support groups are totally free, so partaking in one won’t put any unnecessary financial strain on you. All it requires is for you to show up and be open to the discussions.
2. They can offer you hope
Sometimes life before, during and after addiction can feel pretty dark and exhausting. However, the stories you hear in support group conversations can offer you a lot of hope and comfort during those hardest times.
Maybe you meet someone with a similar background and find comfort and strength in talking with them and learning how they overcame certain challenges; maybe someone shares about a particularly hard part of their journey, and even though you had a different experience, you still feel inspired by their triumph.
No matter what it is, the truth is that there is a lot to learn and be encouraged by through the participation of a support group.
3. You’ll have people to talk to
It might be difficult to talk with family or friends about your struggles since they can’t relate or haven’t been through the experience themselves. While they most likely would want to help, it can be more beneficial sometimes to talk with people who’ve shared similar experiences.
This is one of the valuable aspects of a support group. You know that you have shared experiences with these people and that when you open up about certain struggles, past or current, you’re likely to receive more than sympathy — you’ll receive encouragement from people who’ve been there and who “know what you’re talking about.”
4. It helps put your recovery first
When you try to maintain recovery alone, temptations are bound to creep in. However, when you partake in a support group, you’re surrounding yourself with people who want more for you than a life of addiction. This supportive environment can not only help remind you why you started this journey initially, but why it’s so important to continue it no matter what.
5. It provides invaluable accountability
Sober support groups mean you have a handful of people following along with your story, rooting for you and checking up on you. This means some intentional accountability.
When you have people keeping you accountable, you’re less likely to relapse, not because you’re being guilt-tripped, but because you’re working alongside people who are also striving for the same thing. In a support group, you’re given tools and strategies to build self-efficacy, which helps all of you understand the importance of and desire for sobriety.
In other words, the group isn’t just keeping you accountable. You, too, are learning how to keep yourself accountable which is a crucial step in maintaining sobriety lifelong.
Looking for a sober support group?
After going through addiction treatment, the final stage of recovery – maintenance – begins. While this can be intimidating, it can also be a beautiful time of self-discovery, as well as community building.
The community you can find through a sober support group can offer you the chance to regularly speak with like-minded people all pursuing the same thing. Not only will this help keep you accountable and dedicated, it will provide you with the tools you need to continue pursuing sobriety for the rest of your life.
If you have questions about any part of the recovery process, from addiction detox to post-treatment support groups, reach out to Freedom Detox today by calling 800-475-2312.
