Does recovery ever really have an “end” when treatment is over? It can be best described as a life-long journey meant to be shared with loved ones. The new friendships you make, the bonds that form between you and others who really “get” you, will play a significant role now and in the future, as you navigate through life. “No man is an island,” an oft-quoted line from John Donne’s poem, marks the importance of social connection, and this fact bears more significance for people in recovery.
Community Sustains Recovery
Recent developments in research are showing trends in addiction and social alienation. The connection we make with others in their physical presence (as opposed to social media behind a computer screen) produces oxytocin, a neurotransmitter responsible for building resilience against stress (1) (Heinrichs, Kirschbaum & Ehlert, 2003). Humans are social creatures, and without relationships, especially people who will support you in your recovery and not exhibit tempting behaviors, it would be extremely difficult to sustain long-term recovery. The link between social connection and addiction is also supported by Johann Hari, who discusses the findings of his three-year research study in his Ted Talk.
Power in Numbers
Individual counseling sessions are effective, and group counseling sessions are powerful. The saying goes, “There’s power in numbers,” and that same principle can be applied to substance abuse treatment. As the group facilitator effectively leads a session with gender-specific, age-specific or other types of cohorts, everyone understands that there is one thing that brought them here, and that is their desire to recover. Not only that, but each cohort shares a number of characteristics that help them bond more easily. The significance of meeting someone who finally “gets you” is so important that it can make the difference between life and death, the will to keep living or the resignation to suicide. The empathetic bonds that build bridges between strangers cannot be underestimated.
Keeping in Touch with Extended Aftercare
Graduates of New Method Wellness’s treatment program have the opportunity to participate in our Extended Aftercare program, which is a community-based program for alumni, substance abuse counselors, and clients who are early in their recovery. The purpose of the alumni program is to establish lifelong connections between the Center’s therapists and clients where people feel safe and can still have fun. Participants get to inspire, motivate, and encourage one another as they support each other.
To learn more about New Method Wellness’s program, call (866) 951-1824!
