No one can navigate this life alone. We all need people we can rely on, who will celebrate us, hold us accountable, and help us grow. When a person enters recovery, they continue to need support from other people for a variety of reasons.
Fight isolation - When a person is in active addiction, it is not uncommon for them to become distanced from friends and family. Instead, they may surround themselves with people who encourage their substance use. When they get sober, they may feel lonely and isolated as they repair relationships with loved ones and distance themselves from the friends who do not support their recovery journey.
Gain perspective – if no one in your life has experienced addiction and then gotten sober, they may not recognize signs of impending relapse or know how to help you when you hit a plateau in your recovery journey. Sponsors and sober friends who have been there can point you in the right direction by helping you set realistic expectations and identify ways you can continue to grow.
Feel understood – Sometimes the people who love us aren’t able to help because they don’t know what it is like to be in our shoes. Sometimes it is nice just to feel like someone gets where you’re coming from and won’t judge you for struggling.
See that it can be done – Witnessing other people thriving in their sober lives can provide a type of roadmap for accomplishing the same, and it can make the scary and overwhelming proposition of recovery seem far more attainable.
Gain an opportunity to help others – Not only can a person in recovery benefit from having a sober support system, but they can also become a sober support for other people. Alcoholics Anonymous teaches that this is the best way to stay sober. “You have to give it away to keep it,” is a mantra that is often repeated within AA circles.