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How Can I Navigate the Addiction Recovery Process with Unsupportive Friendships?
Recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) and time spent in active addiction is all too often a challenging and isolating experience for those navigating the process. For many, recovering from misusing substances also typically includes experiencing a maze of difficult emotions, behaviors, and social dynamics.
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In some cases, unsupportive friends can hinder the addiction recovery process for those undertaking it. These friendships can make it more difficult for those in recovery from SUDs to stop taking drugs and alcohol even though they genuinely want to.
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In the worst cases, unsupportive friendships may even encourage those in recovery to continue in their chaotic cycle of active addiction by diminishing their sobriety efforts or their need to abstain.
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All these factors and more make identifying and addressing these harmful relationships critical. Many in recovery from addiction find themselves asking at one point: How can I navigate the addiction recovery process with unsupportive friends?
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Unfortunately, sometimes, the friendships we had in active addiction aren’t always beneficial for us in recovery from substance use disorders. For those considering these bonds and their effects, it’s essential to take active steps like drawing boundaries and recognizing when these relationships may not always be healthy.
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Sometimes, detaching from these unsupportive friendships, even short term, in addiction recovery is necessary for our well-being and to achieve our long-term sobriety goals.
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In this article by GateHouse Treatment, we will explore ways to recognize and manage unsupportive friendships in addiction recovery while staying true to your needs. We will also discuss some ways individuals with SUDs address their conditions through various treatment models like rehab to achieve lasting sobriety.
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So, please keep reading to learn more about how to handle these challenging dynamics in recovery and build connections that lead to better life outcomes!
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Click here to read other blogs by Gatehouse Treatment about addiction recovery, our rehabilitation center, and addiction treatment support options. Explore our treatment options more comprehensively here.
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Understanding Unsupportive Friends in Recovery
Before diving into strategies for dealing with unsupportive friends in addiction, it’s essential first to understand why they function the way they do. Â
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For some individuals, seeing a friend make positive changes in their life and work towards sobriety can present feelings of guilt or shame around their substance use behaviors and lifestyle choices.
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These triggers, which can be hard to control, may lead to the development of unsupportive friendships. These friendships can be mean, harsh, critical in nature, or dismissive of a person’s recovery efforts.
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Simply put, an unsupportive friend is someone who doesn’t prioritize your well-being or support your recovery goals related to sobriety.
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The Impact of Unsupportive Friends on the Sobriety Journey
Unsupportive friendships may be unhelpful in some of the following ways:Â Â
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- Encouraging Destructive Behaviors: These individuals may pressure you to continue using substances or engage in unhealthy habits that setback your progress.
- Glorifying Previous Use: Unsupportive friends may express nostalgia about their days actively misusing substances with you without considering the grave costs should you resume use again.
- Minimizing Your Addiction: Some friends may not fully comprehend the seriousness of addiction and downplay its impact on your life.
- Resisting Change: As you embark on the journey of recovery, you may find that some friends are resistant to your growth and change. They may express fears about losing the friendship’s essence or discomfort with the changes.
- Not Respecting Boundaries: Unsupportive friends may constantly push your boundaries around substance use or not acknowledge them at all.
- Absorb Your Time in Negative Ways: Unsupportive friends can drain your emotional energy, making it harder to stay focused on your recovery goals.
- Become Triggers: Unhelpful friends can begin to trigger negative emotions like anger, sadness, or frustration around life in general or your recovery efforts. These feelings can be hazardous, as they can jeopardize your progress and increase the risk of relapse.
- Limit Your Social Expansion: Unsupportive friends can hinder your ability to build a new, healthier social network.
It’s important to remember these unsupportive friends may be struggling with their own mental health and substance abuse issues, which leads to their lack of support. Those in recovery should do their best to recognize that other people’s problematic relationships with substances and their actions, as a result, are not a reflection of their worth or progress.
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6 Helpful Strategies for Navigating Unsupportive Friendships
Here are a few great suggestions for navigating unsupportive friends:
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1. Communicate Your Needs
One of the first steps in navigating unsupportive friendships in recovery is communicating your needs clearly and assertively. Let your friends know how their behavior or words impact you, and then describe the kind of support you need.
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2. Expect Some Friends May Have Alternating Responses
When you disclose your choice to become sober, it’s essential to prepare for different responses from your friends. Some may be understanding and offer support, while others may resist or dismiss your needs.
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Regardless of their responses, it’s essential to stay true to yourself and not compromise your recovery for the sake of maintaining a friendship.
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3. Surround Yourself with Supportive People
While recovering, it’s helpful and critical to surround yourself with others who understand your experiences. This recovery network can include family members, other friends in recovery, support groups, or a therapist if you need one.
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These individuals can help provide the understanding, encouragement, and accountability that may be lacking from unsupportive friends. A solid support system can also help counteract negative influences and remind you of your worth and progress throughout recovery.
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4. Maintain Your Boundaries
Setting boundaries is crucial when dealing with unsupportive friends. Clearly communicate your needs and limits, and don’t be afraid to distance yourself from those who consistently undermine your boundaries and requests.
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5. Expand Your Emotional Resilience
Focus on building your emotional resiliency and try to include practices like mindfulness, creative movement, or journaling whenever possible to enhance it further. Research shows that strengthening your mental and emotional capacity can help you feel grounded and focused, even when faced with unproductive negativity surrounding your sober choices.
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6. Detach from Unhealthy Relationships That Make Your Recovery Harder
While it may be difficult, letting go of unhealthy friendships may be necessary for your long-term wellness and sober recovery. Detaching from unsupportive friends doesn’t always mean you have to cut ties with these individuals completely. Still, it may involve limiting contact for a time while you heal.
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It’s important to remember that prioritizing your health and sobriety is not selfish. It’s essential for your long-term well-being and may ultimately help you experience healthier relationships in the future.
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Addiction Treatment Options for Those Living with SUDs
Understanding your treatment options for addiction recovery is crucial for a successful recovery in the long term. Here are some common approaches to addiction treatment that can help you on your path to sobriety:
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Inpatient Rehabilitation:
Inpatient rehabilitation programs or rehab offers intensive, round-the-clock care in a structured environment. Here, those struggling with substance use can focus on recovery without the demands of the outside world.
These intensive programs can be beneficial to those with severe SUDs or co-occurring mental health disorders.
Outpatient Programs:
Outpatient programs provide flexibility, allowing you to continue your daily responsibilities while still receiving intensive treatment for your substance use disorders. These programs can include individual therapy, group therapy, and other support services.
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Medication-Assisted Treatment:
According to SAMHSA, medication-assisted treatment combines medications with behavioral therapy to address substance use disorders. MAT can help treat SUDs, most often related to opioid and alcohol addictions, through specialized medications and oversight.
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Letting Go of Unhealthy Friendships Can Be Challenging but May Save Your Life in the Long Run.
Recovering from active addiction can be a complex journey, and having unsupportive friends can make it even harder. However, understanding the impact these friendships have on your recovery while surrounding yourself with the support you need makes it possible to thrive on your journey to recovery long term.
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So, keep pushing forward, even when faced with unhelpful friends, and know that true friends will always support your growth and happiness!
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Maintaining Sobriety in the Face of Unsupportive Friends with the Help of Gatehouse Treatment
At GateHouse Treatment, we understand the challenges of maintaining sobriety while dealing with unsupportive friendships and other unhelpful influences.
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Our comprehensive addiction treatment programs and experienced team of addiction specialists provide those in recovery from SUDs the support they need to overcome these obstacles and flourish in recovery for long-term success, staying clean and sober even after they leave.
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Contact GateHouse Treatment today via this online link or by calling us at (855) 448-3588 to learn more about our personalized addiction treatment options and how we can help you on your way to achieving lasting sobriety.
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So why wait? Let go of what no longer serves you.
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Reach GateHouse Treatment in Nashua, NH today to take the initial step towards a healthier, safer, and happier future.
Editorial Staff at GateHouse Treatment
Brittany Marie Flynn is a published blogger and former Registered Behavior Technician. Her content primarily focuses on Psychology-related topics like Addiction, Human Behavior, and Autism. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and has done graduate-level work in Behavioral Science and Psychology. She currently writes content for GateHouse that helps vulnerable populations acquire the profound resources they need for support and lasting recovery.
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