The Importance of Strong Support

When someone enters treatment for their addiction, it can be a very lonely time. This is often the lowest point of a person’s life in which they need the most support. However, clients often have already caused damage to their families, their careers and other parts of their lives. People are left feeling resentment towards people suffering from addiction, because it seems as if they have “chosen” their substance of choice over the love for their family.

Entering addiction treatment can be entering an unknown. It’s a complete lifestyle change, and going through the detox process can be extremely uncomfortable. Therapy is difficult and emotional, as well as realizing certain truths that may pop up. Looking in the mirror at a low point in life is difficult for anybody, which is why having a strong support system during this time is vital while going through treatment.

Accountability

One of the most important reasons you should have a strong support network while going through treatment is to keep you accountable throughout the process. As backwards as it sounds, it is especially true when someone becomes confident in their sobriety and treatment. They feel more confident facing triggers, however, they may find that they weren’t yet ready to face them yet. Having a strong support system will help keep you accountable in stressful situations, and will also give you someone to lean on if times get tough.

Most relapses occur within the first 90 days of becoming sober. Sometimes, the temptation to revert back to bad habits might be too strong, especially if withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and cravings are at an all-time high. Being able to talk to people who can offer compassion, advice and a shoulder to lean on can be very comforting and helpful through the process.

If you’re having a particularly difficult day in treatment, you can lean on your support system for advice on how to tackle the issue, rather than relapsing into drugs and alcohol. Being able to connect with people about these issues help keep you accountable, on track and to grow as a person. Treatment is all about changing your lifestyle and finding healthy coping skills, so being able to have people to share this with you is extremely beneficial during treatment.

Honesty

Having a strong support system will give you honest, true friendships. One of the biggest red flags that someone needs to enter treatment is that their social circle changes. The new people you saw yourself spending time with before treatment never had your best interests in mind – all they wanted to do was share their addiction with you and vice versa. Moving on from these negative friendships and sharing in true, supportive friendships is extremely important in the recovery process.

If you’re celebrating a milestone in your sobriety, they will genuinely celebrate with you. If you are having a difficult moment, you have a safe space to open up and gain insight. Having an honest support network will let you learn and grow, and being able to be completely honest with others will keep you sober and healthy.

If a friend or family member in your support network notices that you might be slipping back into relapse, they will be honest with you with their concerns. Being able to have people who look out for you in this way just might save your life.

Motivation

Having a strong support network of people who love you is genuine motivation to continue being sober and complete your treatment. Having family and friends on the other side who can give you a place to live and get you back on your feet is very important. If you have a cheering squad, you’re not going to want to let them down by deciding to leave treatment. You’re going to want to complete it and keep them cheering.

Often times, relationships become fractured as a result of addiction. Marriages may result in divorce, children cut parents out of their lives, or parents kick their children out of their homes. Long-term friendships become severed and families can split apart due to the stress of a loved one’s addiction. When a client enters treatment, it is very important for their family to also take advantage of the family program. Repairing these relationships and learning how addiction plays a part in everything is vital for the recovery of not only the person suffering from addiction, but the rest of the family as well.

About Pinelands Recovery Center

Entering treatment for substance abuse can be a scary time, especially if most of your relationships have been damaged due to your addiction. While you’re in treatment, you can work to repair these relationships and build a strong support system for yourself. Having this support system is the key to long-lasting recovery and will ultimately be what helps keep you sober.

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and a 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.

We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy life.

We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and
healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit pinelandsrecovery.com