Early recovery can be an exciting time in your recovery journey. You may be filled with so much enthusiasm for your new life in recovery that attending your alumni weekly meetings may feel pointless. Your eagerness to start building your new life in recovery is understandable. Being able to look at where you came from to the sobriety you have now is incredibly rewarding.

You should be proud of all the work you have done. It took courage to recognize there needed to be a change. However, it is important to also remember that recovery is not a final destination. Recovery is a lifelong process in which you continue to put in the work to learn and grow. Attending weekly meetings with alumni is one important way to stay present in your recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that living a life in recovery means learning how to live on life's terms. Rather than succumbing to life stressors, the work of recovery is to learn how to flow with the tide of life. Thus, sustained recovery is born out of learning how to engage in adaptive coping strategies. With adaptive coping, you can meet the challenges and opportunities that come with rebuilding your life.

Through our peer-driven network, you can find compassionate support and accountability to build the foundation you need to maintain recovery. Yet, it may feel difficult to imagine why continuing to attend weekly meetings can be valuable for you. Therefore, expanding your understanding of addiction and recovery as an occupation can give you more insight into the importance of weekly meetings.

The Occupation of Addiction: Addressing the Ups and Downs of Early Recovery

As noted in the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, addictions are occupations in themselves that impact your sense of identity. Addiction shapes the roles, routines, and behaviors you engage in as using substances becomes your identity. However, in recovery, that occupation or identity in addiction is removed from your life. The shift from actively using to sobriety can evoke similar feelings of loss when you transition from one job to another. This shift in addiction occupation is a significant change in your life and your sense of self.

Listed below are some of the ways sobriety can leave you feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable to relapse in early recovery:

• Change or loss of identity
• Loss of routine
• Role confusion
• Loss of social connections
• Reduced motivation

Looking at the occupational sense of loss that comes with early recovery highlights the value of weekly meetings. Without weekly meetings, you are left vulnerable to the ups and downs of recovery. Meanwhile, active participation in weekly meetings can give you the support and stability you need to form and embrace new roles, routines, and connections.

Yet, you may question what attending weekly meetings will look like.

What to Expect During Alumni Weekly Meetings

The core work of alumni weekly meetings is to provide support and hold each other accountable for personal growth. Therefore, weekly meetings in recovery may look a little different each week to meet your needs that week. The goal of weekly meetings is to check in to see how you are doing and address any areas where you need additional support. We are here to support you and help you address every area of your life because sustained recovery is a whole-person process. Whether you are doing well or facing some challenges at work, school, or in your relationships, weekly meetings give you space to process challenges in healthy ways.

Now, you may question what makes weekly meetings with alumni so special. You may think you did all this kind of work and built connections in group therapy when you were in treatment. Addressing the differences between group therapy and support groups will give you insight into why an active alumni program is vital in your life.

Understanding the Difference Between Group Therapy and Support Groups

Group therapy is used in the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). In group therapy, you are usually brought together with others with similar conditions under the guidance of a clinician. Through group therapy, you engage in sharing lived experiences and build skills to effect positive change.

On the other hand, a support group is designed to enhance the tools you learned in treatment. A support group can be run by a clinician or by peers to offer a safe and non-judgmental space where you can share your triumphs and challenges. Through a support group, you find a sense of belonging and support to cope with the challenges that try to rock the positive changes you have made. Thus, engaging in weekly meetings is a bridge between the work done in treatment and maintaining that work in recovery.

The Benefits of Continuing Weekly Meetings in Recovery

One of the most valuable elements of weekly meetings is those close connections. As noted in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, the cornerstone of fostering peer relationships is shared lived experiences. In your weekly meetings, each member shares their lived experiences with addiction and recovery to learn from each other. When you know you are not alone in your successes and setbacks, hope is enhanced. With more hope comes motivation to continue to do the work, engage in sober activities, and nurture supportive relationships.

Strength in Connection: Fostering Lasting Recovery With Weekly Meetings at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe a vibrant alumni program is vital to reintegration into everyday life. We know it can be easy to get swept up in the thrill of recovery. It can be equally as easy to get knocked down by life stressors and recovery challenges. Recovery is not static but rather a dynamic process in which lasting healing is built on a commitment to continue to learn and grow. Through our peer-driven network, we are dedicated to giving you the encouragement, accountability, and connection you deserve to thrive.

Early recovery can be an exciting and vulnerable time in your recovery. The joy of being sober can lead you to believe any more support services and resources are unnecessary to live your life. Wanting to get back to living your life after treatment is understandable. However, it is important to remember that recovery is not a static destination but a dynamic process of continual growth across your lifespan. Attending weekly meetings in an active alumni program is valuable to help you manage challenges and maintain your recovery. Through weekly meetings, you can find the sense of belonging, support, and accountability you need to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. Call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 today.