Early recovery is considered a shaky time. People who have recently left rehab are still trying to sort out life as a newly clean and sober individual. During this time, community and support are extremely important.
You may be attending an aftercare program, going to meetings, meeting with a counselor and spending time with friends in recovery. These are all important activities that will help you feel supported and confident in your newfound recovery.
Because consistency and routine are important to establish in early recovery, it’s a good idea to avoid major changes and decisions. This is simply because you need time to focus on yourself, your recovery, building new habits and learning how to deal with daily life without using drugs or alcohol.
What Happens If You Have To Take A Trip?
There are many reasons you may have to leave the support of your immediate community for a few days or more. Maybe you have a family obligation or event you need to attend, or a family member is ill and needs assistance. Whatever the reason for your trip, you may be feeling nervous about being away from your recovery friends, sponsor or counselors.
Ways To Stay Connected To Your Recovery Community
Talk About It
One of the best things you can do any time you have stuff going on is to talk about it. Let people know you are going on a trip, and let them know how you are feeling about it. If the trip is potentially stressful in nature, talk about that, too.
When you are open with your support group and let them know what’s bothering you, it takes some of the power out of the situation.
Be Sure You Have Plenty Of Phone Numbers
Your phone is your lifeline when you are away from home. Use it. Make a list of people to call and check in with, and let them know you’ll be calling. Make a few “phone dates” to talk to your sponsor, if you have one, as well as other trusted women in recovery.
Social Media
Chances are you have friends on social media who are in recovery. While social media should never be a substitute for real-world interaction, it can be a tool for keeping in touch. There are also recovery-oriented Facebook groups that you can join to give you some additional support and connection.
If you call someone and they don’t answer, move to the next person on the list. Don’t worry about bothering anyone, remember, you are giving them an opportunity to be supportive and of service, which is good for their recovery, too!
Make A Plan
Talk to your counselor, sponsor, or someone else who has a good amount of recovery about what you will do if you are feeling shaky. If you are concerned about being away from home or running into people who use, or any other issue that might potentially come up, make a plan for it. What will you do? Who will you call? What tools and strategies have you learned in treatment that you can apply to the situation?
What will you do if you feel like things are unsafe or unhealthy? Make an escape plan.
Find Out Where Meetings Are
There are twelve step meetings in just about every country in the world, and most U.S. cities have meetings throughout the week. Even if the town you are going to be in doesn’t have a meeting, there’s a good chance there’s one in the next town. Find out where they are. You can find meeting schedules online, so print one out and keep it with you.
Rehearse What You’ll Say
If someone offers you a drink or a drug, what will you say? When someone you know and love confronts you about your addiction, past behavior or current situation, how will you respond? Practicing saying “no” is a good thing to do, no matter where you are.
Remember, no matter where you are, your recovery community is never far from you. Your recovery community isn’t just made up of people you know, there are people all over the world who are doing the same thing you are doing. Stay as connected as you can to your support group back home, and try to cultivate some new friendships where you are.
