How to Expand Your Social Circle in Recovery Part 2

This article is continued from part 1.

One of the most powerful aspects of addiction is its ability to make addicts feel alienated from the rest of the world, and from the people who care about them and want to help them get better. For this reason, recovery needs to inherently have a social aspect that helps addicts overcome this alienation and grow to reach their true potential. Because of this, it’s a good idea to find positive ways to expand your network of social support in drug recovery. Here are some ways to build out your social circle during this crucial time…

Don’t reconnect with destructive friendships

In the first part of this series, we talked about how rebuilding connections with family members helps give your social circle the support system that it needs. However, it needs to be noted that not every relationship is deserving of being put back together. If there were friendships that brought your life down and pushed you on the road towards addiction, then there shouldn’t be any hurry to try to rebuild that relationship. This is especially true during the recovery process, which can be a tumultuous time, and where it is essential for an addict’s mind to avoid destructive behavior that can be caused by poor friendships.

Use online resources

There are plenty of online resources that can help recovering addicts find people in their area that can relate to them. If you find that you aren’t connecting to anyone in your rehab programs group therapy sessions, then find some local resources that can supplement these group therapy sessions and help you find other people that know what a battle with addiction is like and how it can take over your life.

Avoid romantic relationships, early on

While finding new friends and reconnecting with family is an absolutely crucial aspect of recovery, one thing that you should probably avoid doing during this part of recovery is starting new romantic relationships. Right now, it’s important to simplify certain aspects of your life, and romantic relationships can complicate the recovery process. While there is definitely the temptation to use your newfound passion in a romantic realm, take it slow and wait until your recovery has a more solid track record before starting anything romantic.