What To Do If You Lack A Support System During Addiction Treatment

Treatments for different types of addiction are usually long-term and may be done in several cycles. It’s because each person’s recovery journey is unique, and responses to treatment may vary. On the road to recuperation, a patient will have to unlearn dangerous habits, restore physical health, and regain mental wellness. As all these can be overwhelming to do alone, experts encourage patients to seek support from other people as they heal.  

However, not all patients have a strong support system that can provide them with the moral and emotional aid they need. Given the long duration and difficulty involved in the rehabilitation process, addiction is more likely to relapse without someone to talk to and consult with. It is why a patient needs to be in a conducive environment surrounded by positive influences to stay the course.   

If you’re a patient who doesn’t have access to a support system, there are some solutions available to get you the help that you’ll need. Here are some of them:  

Seek Professional Help 

As you start recovery, one of the first steps you’d have to take is to consult medical professionals such as doctors, therapists, or psychologists who could help you get into a recovery program specifically designed for the type of addiction you’re battling. For most cases, medical treatment is usually coupled with therapy, counseling, and participation in different support groups.   

Treatment centers encourage patients to participate in group therapy to socialize with other patients who may have similar experiences. This way, the participants will be able to express themselves and share their experiences which can greatly help them go through the healing process. As such, you can ask for group therapy recommendations from your doctors or counselors if you’re yet to identify people in your circle who could give you the support that you need in your recovery.  

Compare Your Support System Options 

To help you stay on track with treatment and recovery, you’ll need people that will fully support you. These people in your circle should be positive influences who would look out for your best interests and guide you when you encounter problems. On your path towards addiction recovery, you may encounter hurdles that can derail your progress. As such, it’s essential to surround yourself with people who can help make things easier for you as you work your way towards sobriety. 

Here are some of the possible support system options you can consider:  

• Immediate family 
• Friends and relatives 
• Home-based continuing care services 
• Mutual help groups (for both drug and alcohol addiction recovery such as Alcoholics Anonymous) 
• Peer recovery support systems (such as in community recovery centers) 

In choosing your support group system, it’s necessary to consider the ability to be a positive influence in your life and help you maintain the right perspective to complete your healing journey. While it’s ideal to have everyone in your circle support you through recovery, you don’t have to be discouraged if not all of them will be available to help you out. Instead, you can focus on those who are dedicated and willing to lend you a helping hand when you need it.   

Set Expectations 

Once you’ve identified people who would serve as your support system, you can set your expectations accordingly. This way, you’ll be able to communicate them well with your chosen support group for them to have a clear understanding of how they can best help you with your recovery.   

If you need assistance in getting everyone on board, you can ask your treatment center for family therapy and counseling services that would help your loved ones understand the process and their role in it. Therapy and counseling allow open communication between everyone concerned. Through them, you and your support group can have a safe space to express your thoughts, feelings, or concerns about the recovery process.   

Identify And Avoid Potential Pitfalls 

One of the most common triggers of addiction relapse is reconnecting to people or places that remind you of the harmful, unhealthy lifestyle in the past centered on substance abuse. You must close your doors on negative influences in your life permanently so you can completely abstain from addictive substances or habits. This way, you can steer clear of any temptations until you’re able to form healthier habits that you can keep for the long term.   

Apart from negative influences, here are other common pitfalls that cause relapse:  

• Exposure to harmful or addictive substances 
• Poor stress management 
• High-conflict situations that trigger negative emotions 
• Drastic life changes such as getting a new job or entering a new relationship 

Having loving, supportive people around you during difficult times would help you dissociate with those who would encourage you to resume risky behavior and harmful habits that you’re trying to unlearn.  

Conclusion 

There are many ways to get the support you need in your addiction recovery journey. Given this, it’s important to remember that the greatest help that you can receive will come from your determination to get better. Your willpower, coupled with continued therapy and support, might become your best defense against triggers. However, it may also be helpful to accept that the healing process won’t be easy and that a relapse doesn’t mean that you’ve failed to achieve your goals.