Getting Mental Health Support in the Digital Age

Continuous and reliable mental health support is one of the essential components in lasting recovery. With the internet, it’s now easier than ever to stay in contact with a support network. It’s not just this contact that is a boon to those seeking mental health support. More access to digital resources has broken down barriers that kept people from seeking help, or realizing that they need help in the first place. The more awareness about mental health conditions is spread, the more likely vital information will reach those who need it the most.

However, as amazing as the internet is in assisting people, it can also bring harm. It’s important for those who rely on digital mental health support to understand common dangers they may face along the way. The internet, like most tools, can have a positive or negative effect depending on how the individual utilizes it. 

That’s why mental health care and addiction treatment facilities work to stay on top of the constant breakthroughs in digital support and care. Doing so helps keep clients safe, while also having access to new tools that can further assist in treatment and recovery. Facilities like Driftwood Recovery have even created their own app, allowing their clients and alumni to have portable support and assistance. 

The digital world is vast, but there are some common places a struggling person can look for mental health support.

Common Digital Sources of Mental Health Support

The internet is amazing in that it can connect people who are states, or even whole continents away. Easy means of creating websites, forums, and chatrooms allows for the quick creation of communities united under one topic or goal. It’s common for people to use these sources to connect with those who share a hobby, or the love for a book or television series. However, those who need mental health support can find communities centered around care, treatment, and recovery. A few searches or recommendations from a treatment provider can point you in the right direction to find them.

Local support groups or mental health care facilities may have an online chatroom or forum that clients can access alongside in-person meetings. Some facilities use telehealth, a video care service to reach clients who may be unable to leave their homes, or live far away. Telehealth has been invaluable in extending care to vulnerable people, especially during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. As long as you have a webcam, you can chat with a provider, or participate in a support group on Zoom, all without leaving the house.

Apps are another common source of mental health support. They can do everything from sending medication reminders to walking you through calming breathing exercises. Some people in recovery use apps to track their progress or journal their experiences. No matter what your needs are, a specialized app may exist to assist you. 

However, as useful as these digital support tools are, it’s still important to be cautious when using them.

Online Safety Tips When Seeking Mental Health Support

Several dangers can exist online — one being toxic communities and echo chambers. These communities can spread misinformation or even encourage someone to jeopardize their recovery. Before joining an online community or chat group, examine their behaviors. Do they encourage you to seek professional help, or are they trying to sell you a miracle cure? Will they hold you accountable, or will they blame your actions on others? Do they accept criticism, or do they get angry when you bring up concerns? Trust your gut, especially if they make you feel insecure or isolated.

Secondly, never give out your full name and address online. Be wary about sharing pictures, especially if they have identifying information in them. If you are meeting someone, do so in a public place and always tell someone where you are going. Some apps can also be malware or viruses in disguise. Always check reviews and only download apps from secure sites. 

If you are seeking digital mental health support, it’s always okay to talk to a mental health care professional about it. They’ll give you resources that will help you find connections with others. They may be able to recommend apps or other digital tools that can offer assistance. For those in treatment at Driftwood Recovery, there is the Driftwood Recovery app — which can further assist in the recovery process. 

The Driftwood Recovery App

As part of the alumni program, all clients, alumni, and their families have access to the Driftwood Recovery app. This app is designed to help participants stay connected, no matter how far away they are. It allows for continuous peer support, ensuring that nobody is alone or isolated. This is important, as studies show that peer support has a positive effect on recovery. The Driftwood Recovery app also offers easy access to current and future events. With regular updates, participants learn about upcoming workshops and community meetups. 

The goal of the Driftwood Recovery app is to remind participants that they are never alone, even when they struggle. There is always a way to connect with your peers. Sobriety can be challenging and having that connection available can be welcomed. Also, it’s not uncommon for peers to form lasting friendships. Being reminded of exciting upcoming events can offer mental health support by showing you that good things are coming your way. For those who struggle to pull themselves out of darkness, having such a beacon of light can help guide them out.

The digital age offers many wonders. Perhaps the most amazing of all is easier access to help for those struggling. 

The digital age has allowed for people with mental health disorders to find support and assistance from the comfort of their homes. Utilizing digital resources ensures that individuals can stay in contact with their support network or seek help quickly. The value of such tools cannot be overstated. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we provide and guide clients to mental health digital tools to assist them in their recovery journey. With our Driftwood Recovery app, alumni can stay connected, and subsequently, stay in recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or its co-occurring mental health disorders, don’t wait to get help. Contact Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), independence is freedom from the influence or control of other individuals or groups. At its root, independence is tied to the right to seek out and lead a self-determined life. The idea of independence takes on different identities throughout your life. There are many types of independence, from being allowed to pick out your clothes as a child to getting your first car and moving out on your own. Independence is also an important part of recovery as you discover or rediscover personal, emotional, financial, and intellectual independence.

At Driftwood Recovery, we understand that the transition from structured care to a self-determined life in recovery can be daunting. We are committed to helping you develop and maintain the foundation of new healthy thinking and behavior patterns in your life. With support and accountability found in community integration and alumni, you can lead a self-determined life. Yet, you may question how community in alumni can lead to independence. Expanding your understanding of independence in recovery can provide insight into the value of connection for healing and leading a self-determined life.

What Is Psychological Independence?

Both tangible and intangible forms of independence, like stable housing and employment, start with psychological wellness. Developing psychological independence is an important component of recovery and a self-determined life. Psychological independence is an important part of psychosocial development in adolescents. Further, psychological independence consists of four aspects: behavior, values, emotions, and the underlying cognition of those aspects. Through psychological independence, you find your sense of identity, self-understanding, and self-efficacy. 

Yet, how does psychological independence support a self-determined life in recovery? Typically, substance misuse and abuse contribute to an erosion of important components of independence and self-determination like impulse control and emotional regulation. Therefore, looking at the six factors of psychological independence speaks to its significance in development:

• Future orientation
  • Understanding your current state
    • Identify areas for growth
    • Prioritize issues
    • Measure goal obtainment
  • Able to think and strive for future betterment
• Appropriate human relations
  • Able to emphasize and relate appropriately to others
• Value judgment/execution
  • Able to make decisions and take action based on your values
• Responsibility
  • You take responsibility for your actions
• Social perspective
  • Able to understand social knowledge
    • Ability to analyze and understand social situations in relation to social codes and rules
      • Social norms
      • Cultural context
      • How to behave in social situations
  • You know your role in society
• Self-control
  • Able to control your emotions 
  • Ability to see yourself and external events objectively

Looking at the components of psychological independence speaks to the importance of a self-determined life across multiple domains.

The Importance of a Self-Determined Life

Although they are not the same, independence and self-determination are integral to each other. Independence is about your ability to live without needing help; self-determination is about choice. Self-determination is your ability to make choices and take responsibility for your life. As the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) states, self-determination is the ability and right to make choices about your life. 

Yet, what is the value of a self-determined life in recovery? A self-determined life is an important factor for motivation for positive psychological well-being. Through self-determination, you can find greater life satisfaction as you build the components of self-determination:

• Autonomy
  • You believe you can take direct action over your life for change
• Competence
  • You have control over your actions and environment to impact your life and achieve goals
• Relatedness
  • You have a sense of belonging and attachment to others
    • Able to relate to, understand, and care for others

Despite the value of self-determination for motivation, growth, and change in recovery, some barriers impede leading a self-determined life.

Addressing Barriers to a Self-Determined Life

Building a new life without substances can be daunting on its own. Coupled with transitioning from a high level of care in treatment, it can make recovery feel impossible. Understanding barriers to transitioning from treatment to recovery can provide insight into how to dismantle those barriers. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, some of the transition barriers to recovery include:

• Stigma
• Poor support network
• Lack of continuing care
• Neighborhood stress
• Poor job opportunities
• Limited housing options

Transition-related barriers like stigma and resource policies can feel like an uphill battle. However, with support, you can build independence and self-determination to overcome barriers to life in recovery.

Fostering Independence and Self-Determination in Recovery

Access to services and resources in an alumni program empowers:

• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Employment
• Self-reliance
• Help-seeking behavior
• Structure
• Goal obtainment

Further, connection to yourself and others is a foundational part of independence and self-determination. Through connection and other resources, you foster a sense of belonging that encourages the desire and motivation for growth and change. You start to believe in your capacity to effect positive change in your life.

Finding Independence at Driftwood Recovery

Continuing care in an alumni program is an invaluable resource for fostering independence and self-determination in recovery. It is through connection and community that you are given the space to build the independent life you deserve in sustained recovery. Whether you experience challenges with substances or other mental health disorders, continuing care can support your individual needs for an independent and self-determined life. As Mental Health America (MHA) notes in “Position Statement 36: Self-Determination Initiatives,” self-determination is a hierarchy that believes you have the full capacity to manage decisions, coupled with a continuum of shared decision-making. Furthermore, within self-determination, that capacity for decision-making and continuum of shared decision-making is modified with greater support based on your capacity. 

Through self-directed care in alumni, you uncover:

• Autonomy
• Agency
• Choice
• Accountability

At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to an alumni community where you can build mutually supportive relationships to heal. Through a community-driven network of peers, you are reminded that independence does not mean being alone. Connection and community are the secure base from which independence and self-determination flourish.

The transition from structured care to independence can feel overwhelming. However, fostering independence and self-determination can be invaluable to recovery. You can build autonomy, competence, and relatedness to support motivation and belonging for a purposeful life through independence and self-determination. Yet, barriers like stigma, poor social support, and poor resources can impede recovery. However, learning how to build or rebuild an independent and self-determined life is not impossible. With access to services and resources in an alumni program, you can build connections to yourself and others to heal. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to building an alumni family where you can build self-reliance and community to thrive. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Awareness of co-occurring conditions like substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorders has grown. Yet, the connection between SUD and physical health challenges like chronic pain is often overlooked. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 52–74 % of individuals with SUD experience chronic pain. It is vital to recovery to address co-occurring conditions to support whole-person healing for sustained recovery. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe in taking holistic approaches to treatment and recovery for whole-person healing. We know that chronic pain has physical and psychological aspects that impact your well-being and recovery. Pain is an averse experience that can contribute to physical, psychosocial, and economic burdens. With holistic approaches to whole-person healing, you can address co-occurring aspects of chronic pain to maintain your recovery. 

Yet, you may question how an alumni program can help you address chronic pain in recovery. Understanding chronic pain and the mind-body connection can provide greater insight into the holistic tools that can support sustained recovery. 

What Is Chronic Pain?

There is no one way that pain feels. Everyone’s experience with pain is unique to the individual. However, as Medline Plus notes, pain is a signal to your nervous system that there may be an issue. In general, pain is an unpleasant feeling that can range from a sharp or dull prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Moreover, pain may be felt in one area or all over your body. Further, pain is complex and can come in a variety of forms. As the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) states, there are three primary patterns of pain:

• Acute pain
  • Sudden with a specific cause
  • Ends after treatment
    • 6 months or less
  • Sharp pain: Signals threat from injury, disease, overuse, or other environmental stress
    • Strained muscles
    • Cuts/burns
    • Infection
    • Dental work
    • Broken bones
    • Surgery
    • Labor/childbirth
• Episodic pain
  • Irregular 
  • Comes out of nowhere/known triggers
  • Associated with long-term medical condition
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Painful periods
    • Migraines
• Chronic pain
  • Ongoing
    • Headaches/migraines
    • Arthritis
    • Joint pain
    • Nerve pain
    • Back and neck pain
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Cancer
  • 6 months or longer
  • Acute pain becomes chronic 
  • Continues after an injury or illness heals
  • Can appear without a past injury
  • Co-occurring acute and chronic pain
  • Multiple chronic pain conditions

Difficulty with chronic pain is not a rare condition. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, 51.6 million (20.9%) U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Moreover, 17.1 million (6.9%) adults experience high-impact chronic pain. Both chronic and high-impact chronic pain can significantly impact functioning in your daily life. Experiencing high levels of consistent pain in your daily life can have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

Impact of Chronic Pain on Mental Health

Chronic pain and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety commonly co-occur. Not only is chronic pain physically stressful, but the emotional stress takes a toll on how you feel, think, and behave. Together, physical and emotional distress impede your ability to function in every domain of your life. Listed below are some of the domains that chronic pain can impair:

• Work performance
• Daily tasks
  • Chores
• Difficulty sleeping
• Unable to participate in social activities and hobbies

Being unable to do daily life tasks, be productive at work, socialize, or do the things you enjoy can be devastating. Your self-esteem decreases, and frustration grows as you feel like you are not in control of your life. Thus, unaddressed chronic pain in recovery reflects a lack of whole-person healing. Without whole-person healing, you are at a greater risk for SUD and/or mental health relapse. However, understanding the connection between chronic pain and SUD can highlight risk factors for relapse.

Understanding Chronic Pain and SUD

According to the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, understanding the pathways to the inter-relationship between chronic pain and SUD is valuable to improving health outcomes. Some of the pathways that can contribute to the prevalence of SUD and chronic pain include:

• Self-medicating
  • Difficulty coping with physical and emotional challenges
• Exposure to opioid medication
  • Misuse/abuse of opioids for untreated pain
  • Exposure to prescription opioids for acute/chronic pain 
  • Use of opioids for emotional pain
  • Recreational opioid use

Looking at the pathways to co-occurring SUD and chronic pain highlights unaddressed pain and interconnected emotional distress. Therefore, whole-person healing that addresses treating each condition in connection with each other is vital to maintaining recovery.

Addressing Chronic Pain for Whole-Person Healing

Recovering from SUD alone has its challenges. Adding mental health challenges and chronic pain can feel like an impossibility. Despite the complications chronic pain adds to SUD and/or mental health recovery, sustained recovery is possible. With support, you can build a pain management and recovery plan that supports whole-person healing. Listed below are some of the ways you can engage in whole-person healing for chronic pain:

• Explore nonpharmacologic and pharmacotherapy treatment
  • Non-opioid medication
  • Medication-assisted therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Holistic modalities
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Acupuncture
• Exercise
• Nutritious diet
• Sleep routine
• Pain journal
• Peer support

Everyone’s experiences and needs for managing wellness are unique. With support from an alumni program, you can work with your support network to build the recovery plan that best fits you.

Power of Community: Whole-Person Healing at Driftwood Recovery

Engaging in an active alumni program gives you access to a wide variety of services and resources to support recovery. Whether you are looking for support with medication management or nutrition, an alumni program can support you. Further, an alumni program gives you access to a deeply connected sober community. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know meaningful connection with peers and community is vital to chronic pain, SUD, and mental health recovery. Fostering a supportive community of peers, loved ones, and medical professionals empowers physical and psychological wellness. You gain a sense of belonging and shared experiences that remind you that you are not alone. Thus, a supportive community can help you find strength for resilience and self-advocacy. 

Recovering from SUD alone is challenging. The addition of co-occurring chronic pain and mental health disorders can make recovery feel impossible. Chronic pain in recovery can impair performing daily tasks, productivity at work, and socializing. As a result, chronic pain can erode your mental and emotional well-being. Moreover, unaddressed chronic pain and co-occurring mental health disorders increase your risk of developing SUD and or relapsing. However, with holistic continuing care, you can access social connections and other resources for whole-person healing. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an alumni program with services and resources designed to meet your specific needs. Call (512) 759-8330 to learn how an alumni program helps build a community of support.

Despite being a chronically relapsing disorder, sustained recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is possible. As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes, 29.0 million adults (72.2%) in the U.S. consider themselves to be in recovery. Although everyone’s path toward sustained recovery is unique, some key elements support healing. One of the most important elements of recovery is engaging in whole-person healing across multiple domains of your life. Addressing the complexities and challenges of healing can support finding purpose in recovery for long-term wellness.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know the ability to engage in growing, changing, and finding purpose in recovery starts with taking an honest look at oneself. With access to a peer-driven approach to treatment and recovery, you can deepen your awareness and understanding of yourself and others. We are dedicated to an attachment and peer-driven approach to healing. In a vibrant and active alumni program, you can build a community of support that considers the whole of your parts for sustained recovery. Yet, you might question how you can engage in finding purpose in recovery.

Your challenges with SUD and co-occurring conditions can make finding purpose in recovery feel impossible. However, breaking the cycle of suffering in your life starts with understanding the complexities and challenges that can arise in recovery.

What Is Recovery?

Many traditional ideas of recovery focus on the physical aspect of addiction. Thus, traditional rehab programs often consider recovery to be abstinence from using substances. Although abstinence can be an invaluable part of treatment and recovery, it is not the only path or element of meaningful recovery and overall well-being. Recovery is a complex and dynamic process that has a variety of definitions. Each individual has unique needs and experiences that have a direct impact on what recovery looks like. 

However, as Alcohol Research: Current Reviews notes, recovery is an individualized, intentional, dynamic, and relational process. At the core of recovery is a sustained effort to improve your wellness and support healing as a whole person. Thus, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states, being in recovery happens when the positive changes and values you build are voluntarily adopted as a part of your lifestyle. 

Despite being a dynamic process that can support a self-directed life to reach your full potential, recovery does not just happen to you. You must be an active participant in your recovery to reap the benefits of healing. Therefore, addressing challenges that can arise in recovery is invaluable to finding purpose in recovery for long-term wellness.

Addressing Challenges to Recovery

There are a variety of life stressors that can challenge your recovery:

• Transitioning from treatment to recovery
• Loneliness
• Co-occurring disorders
• Relationship conflicts
• Shame and guilt
• Financial difficulties
• Cravings
• Your sense of purpose
• Boredom

Your treatment program has given you adaptive coping strategies to address challenges like cravings and has encouraged you to utilize support groups. Yet, you may overlook challenges like boredom as potentially detrimental to your well-being. 

Finding Purpose in Recovery: Overcoming Boredom

You may question how boredom could harm your well-being and contribute to relapse. Whether you used substances to self-medicate other challenges or engaged in recreational use, substances consumed your life. Most of your experiences and relationships became tied to using substances. Moreover, drug use leads to the release of large amounts of dopamine in your brain that feels like pleasure. Thus, substance use encourages you to repeat the behavior and reinforce substance use as pleasurable.

The combination of a lack of activities outside of substance use and its impact on the reward centers of the brain contribute to feeling bored in recovery. However, you can combat boredom by finding sober activities and hobbies that encourage the natural release of dopamine. Finding activities that feel good and are meaningful is unique to each individual. Listed below are some ways you can overcome boredom in recovery:

• Build a schedule
• Old and new hobbies
  • Painting
  • Cooking
  • Gardening
• Get active
• Volunteer in your community
• Attend sober community events
• Practice mindfulness
• Connect with your peers and loved ones

Staying connected with alumni can help you access other tools like support groups and events to alleviate boredom. Moreover, staying connected to your peers, loved ones, and community can support you in finding purpose in recovery. 

Life in Recovery: Finding Purpose in Recovery

By exploring activities and connecting with others, you can discover or rediscover your purpose in life. Finding purpose in recovery is equally important and interconnected to the challenges that arise in recovery. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, a sense of purpose in life is important in overcoming adversity and improving psychological and physical well-being. Listed below are some of the benefits that come with having a sense of purpose:

• Motivation to behave in ways that are consistent with your purpose or values
• Increase your sense of hope
• Improve self-efficacy
• Support self-determination
• Encourage accountability

A lack of purpose in life, especially following treatment, can leave you feeling dissatisfied and bored. When you feel dissatisfied with your life, you start to lose hope and motivation to maintain recovery. Therefore, finding purpose in recovery is vital to healing and sustained recovery. Yet, how do you find purpose in your life? 

Staying Connected: Finding Purpose in Recovery at Driftwood Recovery

Finding purpose in life is a personal journey. Listed below are some ways you can uncover your purpose include:

• Identify your passions
• Set specific goals
• Practice gratitude 
• Build your support network

Thus, access to an active alumni program can give you a community of connections where you are supported in finding your purpose. At Driftwood Recovery, we believe a vibrant alumni program supports modeling healthy behaviors through connection to the self and others. With access to alumni services and resources like workshops, events, and support groups, you can find the support and confidence to lead a courageous life in recovery.

Learning how to build a life in recovery can feel daunting. However, understanding the challenges that can arise in recovery is invaluable to supporting sustained recovery. Sustained recovery goes beyond abstinence to include a commitment to improving your well-being as a whole person. Boredom and finding purpose in recovery are commonly overlooked challenges to recovery. Yet, boredom and a lack of purpose can be combated by engagement in connection with the self and others. By exploring your passions in old and new hobbies and connecting with your peers and loved ones, you can find purpose in life without substances. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an alumni program built on connection. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

According to Frontiers in Psychology, between 30–75% of the world’s population are introverts. Yet, pop culture presents stereotypes about introverts and extroverts that influence how you see yourself and others. Often, extroverts are glorified as the ideal personality type, while introverts are shown as awkward loners. Thus, perceptions of introverts and your preference for low-stimulation environments can lead you to question how alumni could benefit you. Being an introvert does not mean you dislike social engagement because the value of connection is innately human. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know fostering connections with a community of peers is an invaluable cornerstone for sustained recovery. The value of connection in alumni gives you a community of peers who can provide compassion, understanding, accountability, and guidance. Through our commitment to connection, you are given the tools and resources needed to thrive in recovery. The value of connection in our sober community can be a source of support for introverts and extroverts alike. 

However, you may question how alumni can provide the value of connection for you. Dismantling misconceptions about introverts can provide insight into the value of connection and be a valuable first step toward building community among alumni. 

Difference Between Introverts and Social Anxiety

As noted in the Journal of Personality, introversion-extraversion has traditionally been presented as personality traits in opposition to each other. Further, introversion is often reduced to what is perceived as lacking assertiveness, impulsivity, sociability, and social warmth. Yet, in reality, introverts are not adverse to social connection. Rather, introverts tend to prefer stimulation through social engagement in small doses and often need time to process and recharge. The tendency to withdraw and preference for alone time contribute to misconceptions that introversion and social anxiety are the same. 

Listed below are some of the ways to tell the difference between being an introvert and having social anxiety:

• Introversion
  • A personality trait
  • Gets energy from within
  • Needs time to recharge
  • Prefer solo activities, familiar places, or spending time with people they know well
• Social anxiety
  • A mental health disorder
  • Feels significant nervousness, worry, and fear in social situations or thinking about social situations
  • Experiences a deep fear of rejection and or judgment 
  • Engage in avoidance of social interaction and situations out of fear

Although an introverted person can have social anxiety, they are not synonymous with each other. Being an introvert is less about social anxiety and more about the amount of social energy you have. Yet, how can you find value in connection when social environments deplete you? 

The Value of Connection for Introverts in Recovery

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social connection can have a significant impact on psychological and physical well-being. Moreover, through social connection, you find a sense of belonging, and you feel loved, cared for, and valued. Yet, many are under the impression that social connectedness is not important to introverts. However, as Health Psychology Open notes, the need for social support, social inclusion, and a sense of belonging is a universal human need. Even introverts can benefit from social engagement and support:

• Adaptive coping
• Increased self-esteem
• Greater happiness from deep conversations
• More satisfaction after spending more time with others

Despite knowing the value of connection and enjoying connection, being overstimulated by social environments can present barriers to recovery.

Introverts in Recovery: Addressing Barriers to Healing

The value of connection is deeply integrated into addiction treatment and recovery. Whether it is group therapy, 12-Step programs, or an alumni program, connection is an important component of healing. Yet, if you do not derive your energy from socialization, the social aspect of recovery can make participating in alumni feel impossible. Some of the barriers introverts experience in recovery include:

• The need to be active in meetings
• Sharing your thoughts and feelings
• Spending time getting to know other people in the community

Social barriers in recovery can make it difficult to fully engage in recovery, make sober friends, and build a support network. However, being an introvert does not mean you cannot build a strong network to support you in your recovery journey. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process, and thus, it must be molded to match your specific needs. 

Ways to Find the Value of Connection for Introverts

With a strong and vibrant alumni program, you can find the value of connection that best fits you and your needs. Listed below are some of the ways you can tailor the social aspect of recovery to your life in an alumni program:

• Lean into building close relationships with a small number of people
  • Connect with your sponsor or a peer mentor 
• Engage in more one-on-one conversations
• Sit with someone you trust during meetings
• Connect with other introverts in your sober community
• Utilize digital recovery resources
  • Online meetings
  • Recovery apps for support and connection through sharing milestones and encouragement
• Know your limits by setting aside time to recover from social interaction

Furthermore, with support, you can find connections and build the recovery life that best suits you.

Fostering the Value of Connection in Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that treatment and recovery must come from a full continuum of care. Through a full continuum of care, you can customize your recovery to meet your specific needs. In our alumni program, we provide access to a variety of support services and resources to help you build a meaningful sober network whether you are an introvert or not. 

You can participate in events and activities that are enjoyable for you, such as milestone dinners and renewal retreats. Moreover, our recovery app also gives you the space to connect with and share with others at a pace that is comfortable for you. Whether you are an introvert or not, we can provide an active and flexible alumni program where every alum can thrive.

Pop culture representations of introverts have contributed to misconceptions about introversion as a negative trait and synonymous with social anxiety. Thus, there is an assumption that the social aspect of recovery creates barriers to sustained recovery for introverts. However, introverts can still engage in the value of connection with alumni with tailored support. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process; thus, with an individualized approach, you can be an active participant in alumni for yourself and sober peers. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a wide variety of optional events and activities you can engage in and a recovery app that gives you the space to build connections at your own pace. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.