Our social relationships are what set us apart; we need someone to share our happiness with and, likewise, someone to lean on during our hard times. Recovery is already a complicated process and can be very challenging. Having a solid support system in your family and friends is fantastic, but sharing the experience with another person in recovery can also be beneficial.
You can form a bond with others in similar situations, as they will understand you better than someone on the outside. A great place to do that is in an inpatient treatment center. Living with other patients can be encouraging and inspiring.
Let’s look at some benefits of having a companion during addiction recovery:
Building Healthy Relationships
Sometimes, you have to let go of toxic friends and family members for your recovery. Forming positive and healthy relationships with people who have experienced addiction firsthand can provide you with the desired empathy and understanding. At an inpatient care center, you get to participate in many social activities that lead to forming a solid bond. Some people even continue their supportive relationship after leaving the facility. Having a friend with a similar background can help them better assimilate into the social environment.
Keeping You Motivated
When in doubt, we look around for hope, and meeting someone who overcame the same hardships we feel can help a lot. Rather than living an isolated life, creating a deep friendship can provide invaluable support and motivation for a better future. Everyone is at a different stage of healing, and talking to them can help you understand that recovery is not out of reach. Friends and family who encourage your rehab can also provide guidance when needed. Seeing how someone else is concerned for your well-being can inspire you to stay on track and stick with the treatment.
Learn From Shared Experiences
Sharing personal recovery stories with others can unknowingly motivate someone and give them hope for a brighter future. It can also create a sense of community and break the stigma of avoiding specific topics in a social situation.
Expressing your difficult or ugly emotions helps normalize the feelings, and you can find other people who relate to you. This will not only inspire others to communicate their feelings better but also help you in personal growth. You will start to understand yourself and the people around you better and offer much-needed emotional support.
Keeping You Accountable
Mutual accountability in recovery can be very beneficial as you’ll always have someone to call you out on your harmful thinking patterns. At an inpatient treatment care facility, everyone is expected to participate in group activities and are thus held to a higher standard of accountability by the staff and fellow patients. Seeking a sober lifestyle together can also invoke a sense of comradeship and further inspire you to reach your goal.
Feeling Less Lonely
Recovery is sometimes very isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Sharing your stories, hardships, and hopes for the future with other patients can be rewarding and make you feel supported. When you are only surrounded by sober friends and family, occasionally, it is easy to feel alone and misunderstood in your struggles. However, the fellowship created in an inpatient treatment between the staff and fellow patients over shared experience can be very fulfilling.
Conclusion
Battling addiction can be lonesome and feel like a unique experience. Participating in programs that promote peer support or encourage patients to engage with each other is a great way to tackle loneliness. Listening to other’s progress and struggles can motivate you to continue with the treatment even when things get hard, which in turn helps resist relapse. With fellow patients in recovery, adhering to a set schedule and participating in activities are much more accessible and fun. You can also end up with lifelong friendships over a shared experience and keep each other in check long after your treatment.
