Community in Recovery

Isolation is often a problem for people going through addiction. For these people, the road is lonely. The need to rely on themselves can be exhausting. That is why a solid community can begin putting people back on their feet.

People who feel they do not have a community may find one when they begin the rehabilitation process. The facility they choose should make this a cornerstone of their program. To make sure the individual is aware of its importance.

What Constitutes Community?

Community can mean different things to different people. It doesn’t matter what a person deems as their community as long as it is supportive and is there when the person needs a helping hand. In many cases, the community expects the individual to contribute in ways that make them feel comfortable. This back and forth can have a lasting impact on the individual.

The Role of Community in Recovery

For people going through recovery, it is important to know that there are people rooting for you to make it. When there are people who believe in you and your ability to overcome obstacles, you will start to believe in yourself.

Internal

One thing that is offered in a recovery program is a built-in community. The first piece of this group is the staff. They are there to help you with anything you need to get through the process. Programs want all of their residents to succeed. They are there to assist when things get tough, and people feel like they have reached their breaking point.

The other part of the community is other residents. They gravitate toward like-minded people which often means others in similar circumstances. For those with substance use disorder (SUD), this means other people recovering from SUD within the same program.

Group therapy sessions are meant to stir this environment to life. Although there is a moderator throughout these sessions, it is very much up to the group as to the advice they give, the ways in which they connect, and the subjects they cover. The goal is to establish the trust that has been missing from everyone’s lives and remind them what a community looks like.

External

It is important for people in treatment to realize that they have a social safety network once they leave treatment and continue in their recovery process. This may include:

• Family
• Friends
• Fellow individuals in recovery
• Religious groups
• Like-minded strangers

The fact is that people are supported in treatment by those around them and this mentality must be continued.

A Useful Member

Part of the joy of being part of a community, both during and after treatment, is giving back to that same community that has been helping the individual. Although many people need assistance when they enter treatment and as they transition into recovery, there is also something special about giving back.

When a person is in a facility, they are encouraged in group therapy to give advice and opinions based on their own experiences. What has been found to be true is that not only do people need to be helped, they need to feel helpful. When a person feels needed, they often feel they have something to offer others. This adds a sense of importance to their existence.

As people begin to reenter society they will continue attending group sessions, which will give them more opportunities to not only listen but contribute. During this time they will also be reintegrating into general society and interacting with people they may feel different from. This may happen with friends, strangers, and new coworkers. In these cases, it is important for others to give them reasons to feel useful.

Day-to-day responsibilities are a great way for people to feel like they are giving back and are not simply feeding off a group but are actually a part of it.

Community at Twilight Recovery Center

At Twilight Recovery Center, we are dedicated to assisting our residents with their journey toward reentering society. In many ways, the program is centered around the community we have built here at our beachside facility. People come to us in need and we provide our staff and recovery peers to assist them along the way.

One thing that we pride ourselves on is the transition from our recovery program back into the real world. Everyday life can be tough for newly sober individuals, and we make sure that a person is ready to make the leap before we even make a discharge plan. Part of this involves watching how they interact in group therapy. When a person begins to show interest in the welfare of others, begins talking due to encouragement, and can see themselves as a useful member, they are one step closer to completing treatment.

We also make sure that they have a plan for when they leave. This means understanding their safety network. This could be anything from family and friends to doctors or even which groups they will join when they get home.

Regardless of a person’s problems, we are ready to be their guide. Providing a stable community is just the beginning.