It is not always easy to develop or maintain friendships in recovery. However, it is immensely important to develop post-treatment friendships to assist in fostering a stable recovery. Post-treatment friendships can have a major impact on your recovery success and well-being.
This article will explore healthy components of friendships, how to establish boundaries with new people entering your life, and how The Guest House can support you through individual counseling and an alumni program.
What Is the Importance of Post-Treatment Friendships?
Friendships are an important part of an enriched life. Healthy relationships are essential in every facet of life, but they are even more significant in post-treatment recovery. In recovery, there are many challenges you will face. It is important to have healthy post-treatment friendships to support you. Friends prevent isolation and provide companionship. Other benefits of post-treatment friendships are:
- Giving you a sense of belonging and security
- Reducing stress
- Boosting happiness
- Encouraging your recovery
- Helping you cope with life’s situations
Post-treatment friendships provide recovery support. One of the staples in recovery is building a positive network of support. Engaging in post-treatment friendships will provide a foundation of security in recovery. After all, having a positive supportive network to lean on during tough times is important.
What Are Healthy Components of Healthy Friendships?
Healthy characteristics of post-treatment friendships are important to reflect on. Sometimes it is easy to rush into relationships without exploring the traits of healthy relationships. This is immensely important, especially in recovery. You have spent a lot of time with unhealthy people. Now is your time to delve into what is important in creating post-treatment friendships. Several of those components are:
- Acceptance of each other’s flaws
- Honesty and trustworthiness
- Respectfulness
- Support and encouragement
- Dependability
- Loyalty
- Caring
- Healthy communication
Finding post-treatment friendships that lift you can create a positive feeling in your recovery. Use your experiences in recovery to connect with others who also want healthy post-treatment friendships. When you have good friends, life is more manageable. You become celebrated for all the things you have gone through and who you are becoming.
What Are Some Ways to Meet New Friends?
It is possible to make friends in your already established network. Take a moment and think about people you have had positive interactions with. Those are the people who may be of benefit to you in recovery. Other ways you may find that you can nurture relationships are:
- Joining hobby groups
- Spending time in nature
- Joining a gym
- Attending a 12-Step program or smart recovery meeting
- Introducing yourself to neighbors
- Taking a class
Consistency is key when establishing connections. Following up with the neighbors or conversing over small things can enhance the friendship experience. Remember, connecting does not have to be perfect, it just has to be genuine and meaningful to you.
Establishing Post-treatment Friendships With Boundaries
Setting boundaries in friendships is important for protecting your well-being and recovery. Good boundaries between friends are clear, concise, and firm. They are fundamental to growth and offer intimacy during vulnerable times. Boundaries in post-treatment friendships are important not only for the other person but for you. Unlearning all the negative behaviors and creating a healthy way of living is important as you grow in recovery.
Recovery is full of ups and downs. That’s why you need to make establishing healthy friendships as easy as possible. Don’t forget that as you change in recovery, so will your boundaries. Friendships will always evolve as you grow in your recovery. You need to communicate your wants and needs effectively to establish your boundaries.
Individual Counseling
Sometimes learning about ways of forming friendships is simply not enough. Exploring this topic with a professional therapist can make all the difference in your recovery. Having a therapist means having an objective point of view in your corner. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the oldest type of therapy that can include various modalities a therapist will utilize in session. A therapist will meet you where you are at with unconditional positive regard.
Sometimes it may be difficult to acknowledge that individual therapy is needed. Being among others who understand the value of therapeutic modalities will enhance your recovery. At The Guest House, we value all of our clients, no matter where they are at on their journey.
How Can the Alumni Program Help With Post-Treatment Friendships?
It has been said that recovery is not a destination but a journey. Dedication and hard work to stay sober is not for the weak but for the strong. Once you complete treatment, you will need all the support and healthy post-treatment friendships available. This is why an alumni program provides many benefits and can support you in your journey of recovery.
At The Guest House, we understand how important it is for you to have stable relationships when readjusting to life after treatment. Our alumni program helps you cultivate relationships that can last for a lifetime. Some of the benefits of our alumni program are:
- Learning strong communication skills
- Developing healthy post-treatment friendships
- Participating in sober activities
- Obtaining support and guidance
- Being an inspiration to others
An alumni program can provide a supportive recovery environment. Additionally, you will make connections that will last a lifetime.
Finding a variety of healthy post-treatment friendships does not have to be daunting. Look for several small things when exploring the benefits of friendships, like trustworthiness, caring, and honesty. It can be overwhelming as you struggle with going back to how you were in the past. With the help of The Guest House and the alumni program, you are on your way to developing strong and deep connections. If you or someone you know is struggling to make friendships post-treatment, please do not wait any longer and give us a call at (855) 483-7800. We understand that this journey can be tough and we are here for you every step of the way.