External factors can significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to maintain long-term sobriety. Although outpatient treatment can provide the professional support needed to maintain progress, social support is just as critical to sustaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Emotional support from family and friends can also be helpful, but attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous AA/NA meetings in recovery can provide the peer support needed to stay on track for a better quality of life.
The Value of Attending AA/NA Meetings in Recovery: Common Obstacles in Recovery Without Social Support
Both early and late recovery can come with many different challenges. For instance, it is highly common for an individual to relapse within the first year after completing addiction treatment. A substance relapse is a natural part of recovery, as certain triggers and unwanted substance exposure can be problematic. Stress derived from work, home, or relationships with others can also be taxing on an individual’s mental health.
Knowing that external factors can interfere with one’s recovery process, an individual must practice self-care to effectively manage their condition while in recovery. Different types of self-care may consist of gaining an adequate amount of sleep, eating nutritious foods, and staying active. Doing so may promote a stable mood as well as promote relapse prevention for improved well-being. Common challenges an individual may face without developing a strong support system include:
- Divorce or separation
- Child custody problems
- Financial strife
- Law enforcement issues
- Transportation issues
- Academic challenges
- Unemployment
The Value of Attending AA/NA Meetings in Recovery: The Importance of Developing a Strong Network in Recovery
Research indicates that increased social support has predicted reduced substance use rates after completing treatment. A strong network improves treatment retention and self-efficacy. Thus, social support lengthens days of abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Knowing that every stage of recovery can be a vulnerable time for some individuals, it is essential for one with substance use disorder (SUD) to continue to make healthy connections.
Building a strong support system can help an individual maintain progress, even in times of great hardship. Spending time with like-minded individuals can increase one’s self-esteem, confidence, and motivation to stay strong without depending on drugs or alcohol to cope. An individual can make sober connections with others by getting involved in the community, engaging in sober activities, participating in alumni events, and attending AA/NA meetings. Fun, sober activities that can help those with substance use disorder (SUD) achieve long-term recovery include:
- Having a movie marathon
- Playing yard games
- Biking a local trail
- Hosting a board game night
- Attending an exercise class
- Joining a yoga class
- Heading to the gym
- Meeting for lunch
- Joining a book club or bible study
What Is an AA/NA Meeting?
A wide body of research has highlighted the practical importance and efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. An AA/NA meeting can provide a safe environment with confidentiality to express oneself among others. Harboring tough emotions related to one’s addiction can be psychologically damaging. It is important for individuals facing challenges with addiction and co-occurring mental health complications to open up rather than suppress their emotions. Confiding in others can provide support to others going through a similar journey as well. Moreover, higher levels of participation are linked to increased rates of abstinence.
The Value of Continuing Care at Renaissance Ranch
Knowing that both early and late recovery can be a busy yet lonely process, attending an AA/NA meeting can bring some relief. Feeling bored or lonely can worsen an individual’s depression or anxiety. This can bring on intense substance cravings, often leading to an unwanted relapse. Therefore, ongoing support is critical to aid in relapse prevention.
AA/NA meetings can be a fun yet emotional way to celebrate new milestones. Renaissance Ranch provides continuing care to its clients who complete their addiction treatment. To be eligible to receive aftercare services at their facility, one must complete several benchmarks. One of them, attending AA/NA meetings, is required to receive a lifetime guarantee of support.
Benefits That Can Come from Attending AA/NA Meetings in Recovery
Some individuals may find great joy in sharing their sobriety coins, medallions, or chips. Others may finally feel heard after sharing or listening to another person’s journey to recovery. When an individual starts to experience the three stages of relapse, reaching out to others in an AA/NA meeting can help one refrain from using harmful substances. If a relapse occurs, it is common for one to feel deep feelings of shame and guilt. Attending an AA/NA meeting can help one gain new skills, strategies, and coping mechanisms from peers to turn their lives back around. Additional benefits that can come from attending an AA/NA meeting include:
- Added structure for better decision-making
- Therapeutic direction for support
- Increased sense of purpose moving forward
- Strengthened mind, body, and overall wellbeing
- Developed new habits
- Free meetings that are open to the public
- No intrusive questions or obligations
- Readily available meetings in several locations
- A drug-free environment with few distractions
Renaissance Ranch provides gender-specific treatment for addiction in order to better help our clients succeed in long-term recovery. Thanks to Idaho residents, Renaissance Refuge was awarded a spot on Idaho’s Best list for 2024 in the Mental Wellness category. We provide a comprehensive addiction recovery program that uses a wide variety of therapeutic methods and medical processes delivered through a faith-based approach to promote lasting recovery. We believe that true recovery includes spiritual healing. It has been our experience that this approach has proven to be the most successful. Call Renaissance Ranch at (801) 308-8898 to learn the importance of attending AA/NA meetings to keep the lifetime aftercare contract valid.