How to Refresh and Renew Your Support Network
The days are longer and the weather is getting warmer. As we come out of our winter hibernation, it's a good time to take stock of our lives and refresh our surroundings—including our sobriety support system.
If you've been feeling like your recovery network has been stale or not working for you, it might be time to shake things up a bit. Let's explore the best ways to take stock of personal relationships and renew your recovery journey.
Is Your Support System Helping or Hindering Your Progress?
It's important to have a solid support system in place when working on sobriety. This can be friends, family, a therapist, sponsors, or anyone else who you feel comfortable talking to about your recovery journey.
However, sometimes those individuals aren't as helpful to your wellness as you might believe. That's why it is imperative to take time to see which relationships are really making a difference and which ones you might need to let go of.
Recovery Support System Checklist
Do your friends and family members:
- Make you feel comfortable talking about your sobriety journey?
- Encourage you to stay on track with your goals?
- Help you find new ways to cope with stress and triggers?
- Make you feel supported, without being judgmental?
- Hold you accountable for mistakes without giving in?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, it might be time to re-evaluate that relationship. It's not necessarily easy, but it is important to your sobriety to be around individuals who will help you stay on track—not derail you.
How to Refresh and Renew Your Support Network
Now that you've taken stock of which relationships are helping and hindering your sobriety, it's time to take action. Here are some steps you can take to renew and refresh your sobriety support system.
Identify your sober support needs.
What do you need from your friends and family in order to feel supported? Make a list of these things and be specific.
Talk to your current support network about your needs.
If you're not comfortable doing this, you can always write a letter. This is a chance to explain your needs and give them the opportunity to adjust their support style.
Reach out to new sober friends.
There are many sobriety meetups and online forums where you can connect with others in recovery.
Are you ready to make lasting changes in your life? Our dedicated team at Mount Sinai Wellness Center is here to assist. Please contact us by calling (800) 353-4673 or fill out our online form.
