Building a Strong Social Support Network For Recovery

Understanding social support networks

All humans drive on the basic need of social interaction as forming and maintaining social relationships builds the foundation of our ongoing developmental process. Friends and family can often be seen as supportive network which provides safety and support; however in some cases these social networks can have the opposite effect on us and be associated with negative patterns such as substance use. Often, it can be challenging to recognize toxic relationships and to change old social circles.

Establishing a strong social support network should be implemented in everyone’s recovery in order to prevent relapse and manage sobriety long term. Recovery brings many challenges, including rebuilding and forming new social relationships. Before exploring skills that are necessary to build a strong network, it is necessary to understand what a healthy support network is and how it differs from unhealthy social networks.

Strong recovery-orientated networks can help you identify triggers and avoid high risk situations, where belonging to a strong social circle also reduces stress by creating a sense of safety and security. Research suggested that individuals recovering from substance use are more likely to manage sobriety if they have a strong social support network around them. Having people around you in recovery you can trust and ask for help if you are struggling is so extremely important.

Strategies to rebuild social support network

• Meet new people: Engaging in new sober activities not only helps to support your recovery, it also makes it easier to meet new people who have similar interests than you. Finding new sports or picking up new skills connects people automatically which supports building a new strong network.
• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is a powerful tool which can be used to improve and rebuild relationships. Bringing more awareness towards the present moment and applying principles of mindfulness such as gratitude and compassion to our relationships can help us to socially connect with others. Mindful listening is a very useful skill which can be used to build a strong support network.
• Attend recovery meetings: Regularly attending 12-step, SMART or other peer group recovery meetings (virtually or in person) is a great way to meet people who share similar experiences and want to manage their sobriety. Sharing individual stories around recovery is a proven way to feel more connected and open up the opportunity to ask for help if you are struggling in the future.
• Make informed choices: It is very important that you choose your social support network wisely. Maybe some people seem like the perfect fit, however make sure that the other person follows similar lifestyle choices than you are. Always consider if they using substances, show a negative way of thinking or engaging in unhealthy habits. Ask yourself some questions to make sure this is a positive relationship: Does this feel like a healthy relationship? Is the other person supporting me in my recovery? Do we have similar goals and lifestyle choices?