Breaking Bonds and Making New Friends in Recovery

Breaking Bonds and Making New Friends in Recovery

An important part of addiction recovery is surrounding yourself with people who are a positive influence and who are supportive of your new lifestyle. Hanging out with old friends who are still in active addiction can derail the progress you’ve made and increase temptation. While it may be hard, if they’re not supportive of your recovery, separating yourself from them can be the best choice. Focus on making new friends who respect your decision not to drink or use drugs and who enjoy the same sober activities you do.

It can seem difficult to make new friends as an adult. However, there are plenty of ways to meet new people.

• Build connections with people in support group. They understand where you’re coming from, support where you’re headed, and know the importance of sober friendships.
• Volunteer with an organization you’re passionate about. You’ll meet others who have common interests and feel better about yourself as you make a difference.
• Spend time with sober friends and get to know their friends as well. It’s all about networking and connecting with others. You never know who you’ll hit it off with.
• Participate in community events. It gets you out of the house and surrounds you with people you might otherwise never have met. Start up a conversation and see how it goes.
• Try something new. Join a club, class, or activity that interests you and you’ve been wanting to try. You’re sure to meet others there and will already have something in common.

Keep an open mind, an upbeat attitude, and be friendly toward others. Making new friends can seem intimidating at first, but sometimes you don’t even realize it’s happening. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can be motivating and inspiring as you make meaningful changes in your life and embrace a lifestyle of recovery. JC’s Recovery Center can help you get on the road to recovery through treatment programs that you meet your individual needs.

[cta] Are you ready to break the ties of addiction and start making new friends as you embrace a healthier lifestyle? Contact JC’s Recovery Center today! [/cta]