Building Your Network: The Power of Support in Mental Wellness

Treatment is important when you need help establishing sobriety. It can educate you about what to expect from the journey and give you the skills that you need to maintain mental wellness. While treatment can help you take the necessary steps to get into recovery, other things are important in your recovery journey. For instance, we at West Coast Recovery Centers believe in the importance of a strong support network and integrating your loved ones into your care. 

The people that you surround yourself with and the support that you have to turn to can make a large difference in the longevity of your recovery. Having people who you know will be there for you will encourage you to keep going even when things get hard. When you leave treatment, it is important to build a network that can support you on your journey for mental wellness. 

Importance of a Strong Support Network

It is important to develop a support network when you are in treatment. When you leave treatment and integrate back into life, it can be difficult to adjust to a life of recovery. Research by the Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly shows that those who have strong relationships are less likely to experience relapse and more likely to stay focused on recovery. Having people that you can trust, lean on, and go to when you need them will allow you to maintain your sober progress. Similarly, if you are struggling with triggers, having people that you can turn to will allow you to avoid relapse in mental health symptoms or recovery. 

Strong support networks also include your care team. Having a therapist and provider that you trust is important for processing the difficult experiences you've been through and how they have shaped you. It can be difficult to open up and admit that you need help. Trusting your provider is key to being able to work on the underlying issues and triggers in your life. Knowing where to turn when things get severe is important, and your support network can help you with this. 

Support networks should also be aware of the things that you need from them. If you have someone who understands what you are going through, you can turn to them for support when you feel down. This will keep you accountable to living healthy, as your loved ones can keep you on track. It also helps not to feel alone. Isolation is a large cause of struggle in mental health struggles. If you isolate, you are more likely to turn to unhealthy coping skills and unhealthy activities. Understanding how to build these connections will help you find a healthy support network. 

How to Build Connections

Building connections can feel difficult, especially if you are in recovery from mental health or substance use. Sometimes, finding people who are accepting and encouraging about your journey may seem scary. Knowing that the people around you support you is important to maintaining your recovery. When you come back from treatment, you may have to assess whether the people who surround you are healthy for your newfound sober life. If someone engages in unhealthy or negative activities with you, you may have to find other connections that are better for you. 

Building connections can be difficult, but with treatment, you will gain the confidence to do so. People who are struggling with their mental health may isolate themselves and damage their relationships. Reaching out to loved ones that you may have pushed away when you were struggling is important to getting healthy. Finding hobbies and healthy ways to cope can also connect you to people who have the same interests as you. As you mend your relationships and find new ones, your support network will grow. 

Another great way to find healthy connections is through your treatment facility and alumni network. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we foster an active alumni network that allows our clients to stay in touch with others in similar life stages. Finding support from people who are also in recovery will give you the strength that you need to stay healthy. Those around you will understand what you are going through and the challenges that you face. We offer weekly alumni meetings as well as social events that keep our clients connected once they leave treatment. Maintaining healthy relationships is integral to maintaining your recovery. 

Including Your Relationships in Your Recovery

You must include your loved ones in your recovery journey. If they know what is happening and where you are in recovery, they will understand the best way to support you. Sometimes people don't understand what you are going through or the changes that are needed to live a healthier life. They may struggle to understand the issues that you deal with if they have never experienced them themselves. Involving them in your care will give them an understanding of the best ways that they can help you. 

Sometimes our loved ones want what is best for us, but they are not sure how to go about it. Therapists can work with both of you to understand the best ways for them to support you. Treatment and recovery can also give you the skills that you need to mend your relationships and find healthy support around you. 

Struggling with mental illness can be very isolating. If you have struggled for a long time, you may feel weary about opening up to others. It is also possible that you may have pushed away your loved ones. It is important to maintain your connection to those around you when you are going through recovery. Involving your loved ones in your treatment will help to give them the tools that they need to help you. Support networks can be integral in feeling that you are not alone. When you have someone to turn to, staying in recovery can be possible. To learn more about the importance of support networks, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509.