Do you know what recovery from addiction takes? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Commission (SAMHSA) defines recovery from addiction as “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential.” One can never achieve recovery from addiction on their own. Sustainable recovery from addiction requires the support of an entire community of people. Many recovery centers have made building a good recovery community part of their mission.

Strong and supportive recovery communities are essential for your long-term success in sobriety. A recovery community is made up of all the healthy relationships that support you throughout the process. It is a network of individuals and organizations that share the common goal of encouraging lifelong sobriety and offering support. In the strictest sense, it can refer to a brick-and-mortar residential facility. More broadly, it is the friends and family who support you day in and day out. This community of people assisted by experienced staff and therapists can be a great asset to you.

What Is a Good Recovery Community Like?

During the early stages of recovery, you may find a sober communal living environment, like sober living homes, very beneficial. The home-like atmosphere and substance-free space can help you solidify newly acquired techniques for continued sobriety while allowing you some independence and freedom. These places offer a balance of structure and freedom accompanied by accountability and community.

A communal living facility builds sobriety and recovery into its routines and structures. The staff includes addiction specialists who understand how stress and anxiety can trigger relapses. They intentionally build coping and life skills into the program. Communal games and activities help fight off loneliness and coach people on building new and meaningful friendships. It also fosters trust, interaction, and independence. Time is less regimented at a communal living facility than in an inpatient program which gives residents a high level of respect and agency. In other words, communal living homes are a more controlled microcosm that prepares you for the future world of social relationships.

Recovery communities are not limited to a communal living space, though. Your support can come from friends and family, plus your therapists, counselors, and other alumni of your treatment facility. These people should be able to help equip you with tools to combat relapse as well as encourage you to continue to use those tools. They should be people who allow you freedom while keeping you accountable. Mutual trust and respect are required here. The goal between you and all of these people in your recovery community should be your continued sobriety.

How Do I Keep in Touch With My Recovery Community?

Being present in your recovery community is important. By entering the program, you commit to self-discipline. Hopefully, you will make meaningful and lasting friendships within your recovery community. Although you won’t stay there forever, there are ways to stay connected with both the staff and alumni. One way is through a 12-step program, which allows ongoing participation and the support of a sponsor. The biggest benefit of 12-step meetings is that they immediately include you in a ready-made recovery community.

Your local 12-step group is staffed with people who have both the experience and commitment to help each other towards recovery. Because the program encourages honesty and open communication, you can bond with peers who have experienced similar issues to those you’ve faced. You can feel seen and heard by others too. There will be conversations and stories that keep you motivated, and it is a good place to hear about strategies that have worked for other people that you can build into your recovery process as well.

What Can I Contribute to My Recovery Community?

You need to rely on a strong network of sober, recovering individuals in order to achieve long-term recovery. Intentionality in building this support network is very important. Many people find this challenging because many of their relationships pre-treatment may have also been addicts, and making new friendships can be difficult or anxiety-inducing. It will get easier, and the support you find will be invaluable.

Your experiences with addiction can be transformed into something positive for a recovery community. There is a worldwide recovery community with organizations, associations, researchers, and scientists who contribute knowledge and best practices for long-term recovery for you to benefit from. No matter what stage you are at, education programs, resources, and community connections are helpful. Building a solid recovery community is essential for long-term recovery, and being a part of someone else’s is incredibly rewarding.

Are you looking for a strong and sober recovering community? Do you have the desire to not only heal from addiction but also rebuild authentic relationships? At Laguna Shores Recovery, our staff and therapists strive to make our residential facility a home-like environment. We make sure that you feel comfortable and motivated to begin treatment. You can also connect with other members of this recovering community, such as staff who went through treatment, alumni, and current peers. To support your recovery, we tailor treatment plans to your needs. Laguna Shores Recovery offers treatment plans such as detox, medication, 12-step groups, and relationship skills coaching. Our staff is also experienced in transitioning you into long-term recovery mode after your stay at our facility. We also offer outpatient programs for you to use. Schedule an appointment with us today at Laguna Shores Recovery. Call us at 954-688-5806, and we will be happy to walk alongside you.