Recovery from Addiction: Social Support
A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP, Kaushik Misra, Ph.D., Amy K. Epner, Ph.D., and Galen Morgan Cooper, Ph.D. , edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.Social support can be a very powerful and beneficial force in the recovery process. The benefits of social support are many.
- a sense of belongingness and inclusion,
- a sense of safety and security,
- reduced stress, decreased isolation and loneliness,
- an enhanced sense of meaning and purpose,
- hope and optimism about the future,
- the opportunity to escape the narrow world of one's own concerns
- social support can counteract shame, isolation and secrecy.
What exactly is social support? Social support includes the provision of various forms of help:
a) Providing valuable information: e.g., telling someone about a helpful website about addiction; describing personal recovery experiences; sharing a helpful technique to manage cravings.
b) Providing necessary or desirable resources: e.g., loaning someone a necktie or necklace for a job interview; giving someone a book about recovery; loaning a car.
c) Providing concrete assistance: e.g., driving someone to the doctor's office; taking care of someone's children; helping someone find affordable housing
d) Providing emotional support: e.g., empathic listening; encouragement; understanding; compassion; shared problem-solving
Undoubtedly, some individuals recover from addiction without social support. However, research determined that attendance in a recovery support group is associated with recovery (Atkins & Hawdon, 2007; Humphreys, 2011). In fact, social support is so crucial that several approaches to addiction treatment focus on the reorganization of social support (Miller, Forchimes & Zweben, 2011). However, social support is likely a powerful factor for natural recoveries as well.
If you are interested in recovery, it will be helpful to evaluate the quality of your social network(s). Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does your social network help you to experience yourself as a worthwhile and valuable human being?
2. Do you feel you are a respected and appreciated member of that group?
3. Do you feel a sense of belonging, attachment, and commitment to your social group(s)?
4. Do the members of your social group share a sense of responsibility for each other?
5. When the group makes decisions, does the decision-making process accept input from all its members?
6. Do you provide help to each other? Does the provision of this help enhance your feelings of connection, competence, and well-being?
7. Do your social groups offer varied opportunities for sharing creativity, recreation, laughter, and joy?
8. Do you feel confident that if you really needed some help, this help would be available to you from your social group?
If you answered no to any of these questions, your answer may indicate a possible weakness in your social support network. You may want to work on developing that particular area of social support. If you answered no to many of those questions then it's probably time to take a hard look at this. You may decide your social support network needs a complete overhaul! Take this is stride. Gradually work toward building a new network that includes these positive qualities. However, if you regularly feel criticized, demeaned, and treated with contempt, then depart that situation as soon as possible!
Social support has many benefits. It shines the light on things that may have contributed to the addiction developing in the first place: shame, secrecy, and isolation. It is healthy to gradually share your shame, secrets and insecurities with select members of your social group. In fact, making these disclosures is often crucial to establishing a successful recovery. However, in some situations, it may be safer and wiser to share these things with a professional psychotherapist. Unlike well-meaning friends and family members, the law requires professional therapists to maintain your confidentiality. A friend today may become an adversary tomorrow. A professional therapist is like a vault: sealed shut. If you should decide to consult with a therapist, ask at the onset if there are any legal exceptions to confidentiality. This information will vary from state to state.
Another benefit of a professional therapist is an assurance of acceptance. This is not always the case with friends and family. Furthermore, you may be more likely to open up to a therapist. You may feel reluctant to admit certain things to the people you care about the most. This is because we usually cannot afford to have these close intimates reject or abandon us. Depending upon your situation, your therapist may recommend gradually disclosing some of these very private things to select people in your social network.
A recovery support group offers the positive qualities of social support that we've reviewed. There are other ways to receive the benefits of social support. Some groups to consider are: family; co-workers; group psychotherapy; a church or other religious community; neighbors; a community or civic group; a long-standing group of friends; a sports team; volunteer organizations; or any group that tends to be supportive. A successful recovery plan will include improving your social network. This is especially important if your current support is inadequate. Here's a good guideline to follow: A group is likely to lead you back to addictive behavior if they helped you get there the first place!
We have specifically focused on the social support as it relates to the recovery process. As we change and grow, so does our support system. One thing does not change: We benefit greatly from these important connections with other people.
Resources
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Articles
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What is Addiction?
- Introduction to What is An Addiction
- Definition of Addiction
- Definiton of Addiction Continued
- The Addiction Definition Compared to Other Addiction Terms
- How Do I Know if I Have An Addiction?
- Why Don't They Just Stop? Addiction and the Loss of Control
- Is Alcoholism a Disease?
- Addiction Statistics: How Big of a Problem Is It?
- A Brief History of Alcoholism
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What Causes Addiction?
- Introduction to Causes of Addiction
- The Many Causes of Addiction and Bio-Psych-Social-Spiritual Model
- Biological Causes of Addiction
- Disease Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Evolutionary Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Psychological Causes of Addiction
- Learning Theory of Addiction and Recovery Implications:
- Social Learning Theory of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Cognitive (Expectancy) Theory of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Educational Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Developmental Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Sociological Causes of Addiction and the Temperance Model
- General Systems Theory of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Sociocultural Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Public Health Model of Addiction and Recovery Implications
- Moral and Spiritual Causes of Addiction
- Addiction and Personal Responsibility: A Fundamental Conflict
- Personal Responsibility and Locus of Control
- Controversies in the Addiction Field: Change Versus Acceptance
- Conflict between 12-Step Anonymous Groups and Science: A Historical Perspective
- Conflict between 12-Step Anonymous Groups and Science Continued
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How Do You Get Addicted?
- Introduction to How Do You Get Addicted?
- The Biology of Addiction and Recovery
- How Does Addiction Affect the Brain?
- Addiction Changes the Brain's Chemistry
- Addiction Changes the Brain's Communication Pathways
- Addiction Changes Brain Structures and Their Functioning
- Impaired Decision-making, Impulsivity, and Compulsivity: Addictions' Effect on the Cerebral Cortex
- Drug Seeking and Cravings: Addictions' Effect on the Brain's Reward System
- Habit Formation, Craving, Withdrawal, and Relapse Triggers: Addictions' Effect on the Amygdala
- Stress Regulation and Withdrawal: Addictions' Effect on the Hypothalamus
- The Good News: The Brain Also Helps to Reverse Addiction
- The Psychology of Addiction and Recovery
- Learning Theory and Addiction
- Classical Conditioning and Addiction
- Operant Conditioning and Addiction
- Social Learning Theory and Addiction
- Cognitive Theory and Addiction (Thoughts, Beliefs, Expectations)
- Cognitive Theory and Addiction Continued
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Improving Coping Skills
- Addiction and Other Psychological Disorders
- Developmental Theory and Addiction
- Recovery from Addiction: The Psychology of Motivation and Change
- Addiction: Social and Cultural Influences
- Addiction and Sociological Influences: Culture and Ethnicity
- Recovery from Addiction: Becoming Aware of Cultural Influences
- Recovery from Addiction: The Powerful Influence of Families
- Recovery from Addiction: Social Support
- The Spirituality of Addiction & Recovery
- The Spirituality of Addiction & Recovery Continued
- Incorporating Spirituality into Recovery from Addiction
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Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- How Do You Know If You Have An Addiction?
- The Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Use Disorders (Addiction)
- The Diagnostic Criteria of Substance-Induced Disorders
- Alcohol-Related Disorders
- Caffeine-Use Disorders
- Cannabis-Related Disorders (Marijuana)
- Hallucinogen-Related Disorders
- Inhalant-Related Disorders
- Opioid-Related Disorders (Heroin, Oxycontin®, Vicodin® and other pain medications)
- Sedative-, Hypnotic-, Or Anxiolytic-Related Disorders
- Stimulant Use Disorder: Amphetamine Type (e.g., methamphetamine)
- Tobacco-Related Disorders
- Other Substance-Related Diagnosis and Unspecified Other Substance-Related Disorder
- Activity Addictions (Behavioral Addictions)
- Gambling Disorder (Addiction)
- Sexual Addiction and Pornography Addiction
- Other Activity (or Behavioral) Addictions: Internet Gaming Disorder (Addiction)
- Other Activity (or Behavioral) Addictions: Food Addiction
- Addiction and Other Psychological Disorders
- Addiction and Eating Disorders
- Addiction and Personality Disorders
- Addiction with Depression, Anxiety, and Compulsive Disorders
- Summary of the Diagnostic Process
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Treatment for Addiction
- Treatment for Addiction
- Natural Recovery: Recovery from Addiction Without Treatment
- Natural Recovery Continued
- Choosing An Effective Treatment Approach: Evidenced-Based Practices
- What Makes An Addictions Treatment Effective?
- Biological Approaches to Addiction Treatment: Medications
- The Role of Medication in Addictions Treatment
- Pharmacologic Medications for Addictions Treatment
- Pharmacologic Medications for Addictions Treatment: Part II
- Psychological Approaches to Addiction Treatment
- Motivation for Change: The Stages of Change Model
- Motivation for Change Continued
- Types of Evidenced-Based (Effective) Treatments for Addiction: Motivational Interviewing
- Relapse Prevention Therapy
- Contingency Management
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- What The Pros Know: The Practical Recovery Model
- Social Approaches Addictions Recovery
- A Cultural Approach to Addictions Treatment: Harm Reduction
- Family Approaches to Addictions Treatment: CRAFT, Intervention And Al-Anon
- The Social Support Approach to Addictions Recovery: Recovery Support Groups
- Self-Empowering Support Groups for Addiction Recovery: Smart Recovery
- Moderation Management
- Women for Sobriety
- LifeRing Secular Recovery
- Summary of Self-Empowering Support Groups
- Spiritual Approaches to Addiction Recovery
- 12-Step Support Groups: Groups That End With "Anonymous"
- 12-Step Support Groups: Part II
- 12-Step Support Groups: Part III
- Expanding Addiction Treatment Choices in the United States
- Developing a Personal Action Plan for Addiction Recovery: Part I
- Developing a Personal Action Plan for Addiction Recovery: Part II
- References
- Resources
- Frequentlly Asked Questions about Addiction
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What is Addiction?
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Questions and Answers
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Tests
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Book & Media Reviews
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Self-Help Groups
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Links
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Videos
- Technology Addiction
- Why People Can Become Addicted to Opioids
- The Swiss Cheese Model of Drug Addiction
- The 7 Skills for Addiction-Free Living: Alternatives to Substance Abuse
- Teen Drug Use: 2014 Monitoring The Future Survey Results
- Sex and Gender Differences of Importance to Addiction Science
- How to Tell if a Loved One is Abusing Opioids
- Why Addiction is a “Disease” and Why Is It Important
- NIDA Emerging Drugs-Methylone and Molly
- Designed to Drink? The Genetics of Alcoholism
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39 more
- Women and Addiction: Why Gender Matters
- Designed to Drink? The Genetics of Alcoholism
- Gaming disorder: questions and answers
- ADHD & Risk of Adult Drug Use
- Energy Drink Sparking More ER Visits
- Why are Drugs So Hard To Quit
- Anyone Can Become Addicted to Drugs
- Substance Use: Addiction Theories New Treatments and the Role of Doctoring in Society
- The Impact of Changing Social Behaviors on Teen Drug Use
- Teen Substance Use
- Cannabis Effects on Driving Performance
- Epidemiology of Tobacco Use
- Addiction: Learning to Forget
- Addiction: What Can I Do About It?
- Addiction: Treat It Like a Disease
- Addiction: What Is It?
- One in 4 People Prescribed Opioids Progresses to Longer-Term Prescriptions
- NIDA’s Dr. Phil Skolnick discusses intranasal naloxone
- "Eyes On" Research in Drugged Driving
- How Will Anti-Drug Vaccines Be Used? An Interview With Dr. Thomas Kosten
- Opioid Use in Pregnancy: A Community’s Approach
- Naloxone Rescue Kits
- Living Without Fear
- What You Need to Know About Internet Addiction
- Hooked, Hacked, Hijacked: Reclaim Your Brain from Addictive Living
- The Neuroscience of Internet Addiction
- Internet Addiction: Signs You Need to Shut Down
- What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
- Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
- The Reward Circuit: How the Brain Responds to Cocaine
- The Reward Circuit: How the Brain Responds to Methamphetamine
- The Reward Circuit: How the Brain Responds to Marijuana
- The Reward Circuit: How the Brain Responds to Natural Rewards and Drugs
- Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) for Addictions Video (vol. 1)
- Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictions (vol. 2)
- Prescription Opioid Misuse
- Substance Use Disorders/Addictions - Clinical Overview
- Addiction in the Elderly
- Teenagers, ADHD, and Substance Abuse
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