Making friends, especially sober friends, is an important part of addiction recovery. Without the right friends in your life, you can become lonely – and loneliness is a big relapse trigger. You may have lost a few friends during recovery and that’s normal. Meeting new people can help you to regrow your support circle and provide you with different types of emotional support, feedback and advice – something we all need as we journey toward lasting sobriety.
It’s not easy to put yourself out there – it requires confidence in yourself and your recovery. But you can do it! A big part of making friends in recovery is overcoming some common roadblocks, like fear of rejection and vulnerability, which can keep you from reaching out. The following ideas can help you cope with these fears and put you in the right environment and mindset for meeting new people:
- Go to meetings. You may have to attend a few support groups before you find one that feels right for you, but don’t give up! Once you do find a home recovery group, the friendships will shortly follow.
- Join a class or club. Consider taking an adult art class or yoga class or join a local running club. Trying new hobbies will help you discover new interests and meet new people.
- Volunteer. Whether you volunteer at a community event or pet shelter, this is a great way to put yourself out there and potentially meet like-minded folks.
- Take a walk in the park. If you walk the same route, you’ll likely start to see familiar, friendly faces. Strike up a conversation.
- Go online. Search for online recovery communities or facebook groups to meet others with similar interests.
Don’t forget that whether or not you share your addiction recovery with new acquaintances is up to you – but also remember that safeguarding your sobriety comes first, so be prepared to have an excuse for turning down invitations to drinks or parties that could put your hard-won sobriety at risk.
Recovery Support at Spearhead Lodge You don’t need to overcome addiction on your own. Our program teaches clients to rely on the community of peers around them, so they always have that vital resource when they need it. To learn more about how we can help you get your life back on healthy path, call us today: 888-483-0528.