There is an old adage that says “In order to make friends, you first must show yourself to be friendly.” This could not be more true, particularly as it pertains to making friends and developing new relationships after addiction treatment. It is admittedly more difficult to make friends when you are reentering the world with a lot of unsurety about how successful you will be on your path to sobriety. However, as you adjust to the demands of a world with constant temptations, triggers, and opportunities to go right back down the path you were on months ago, making new friends can be a great way to spend your time and focus your attention on positive stimulants. One of the first places to look for friends post-treatment could very well be in the recovery group or institution you align yourself with. Many of your peers may have come from a very similar place, and together, you all can hold each other accountable, while finding new activities and hobbies to take up that will make you both as successful in your recovery process as possible. It can be difficult to find empathy in people that have not suffered through the things you have suffered through, and having a friend that implicitly understands your journey can save you a lot of headache! It is nice to also branch out, and to find and make friends through the healthy, stimulating activities that you take up after treatment. Individuals with no time for substances will encourage you to pursue things that are healthier, while taking your mind off of the things that you should not be thinking about. These friends will force you to subscribe to a standard of living that does not include drugs, substances, or their abuse. Finally, take advantage of the resources around you to find friends in everyday activities. Your past addiction or recent sobriety are not the only things someone notices when they look at you. In fact, they actually do not notice these things at all. Sign up for a yoga class, and stay after to grab coffee with some of your peers. Try a nifty site like meetup.com to find people that are interested in the same things you are, and do something sporadic. Get involved in local clubs and groups, and chat about your interests! The only requirement is that you do not stay anonymous. Get out and be friendly, and watch as you find the right people!
Try as you might, you won’t be able to turn the people you use with into the good friends you need them to be. In fact, you won’t be able to do anything if you’re still struggling with addiction. Please, call Oceanfront Recovery at (877)279-1777 right now, and start your path to recovery. You’ll be glad you did!
