Recovery is a state of being, not a task you’ll check off once you reach a certain milestone. Like any other area of your life, your journey of recovery will inevitably have its ups and downs. Because part of recovery means reassessing your old behaviors and thought patterns, it won’t always be prudent to handle the rough patches the same ways you used to. It’s critical to have access to people who can provide insight into those low points. If you start slipping towards unhelpful decisions, they can help keep you on track, and if your motivation starts to wane, they can hold you accountable for the commitments you made to health and stability.
Once you’ve returned to a more independent lifestyle, you’re likely to begin viewing your personal relationships with a critical eye. One of the pillars of a healthy social support system is nurturing connections with people you trust to keep your best interests at heart. While recovery is a deeply personal journey, you can make it easier on yourself by sharing the burden of emotional weight and responsibility with the people closest to you.
This doesn’t mean you have to open up about the depths of your struggles with addiction to every person you hang out with. Just be discerning in your interactions and choose the people you trust most to let into your inner transformation. By sharing your experiences and your goals with a close friend or family member, you give them the chance to support you through all your ups and downs. Most importantly, you let them hold you accountable to your new priorities.
While your friends and family can make a significant difference in your progress, they may not always be able to understand your needs or your struggles, especially if they haven’t gone through the same trials. You may even have a hard time opening up to them without feeling shame or judgment. This is where your peers in sobriety can help. The bond you share with the people you meet in your programs and meetings can result in hardened trust. If you find yourself faced with a difficult decision, strong temptation, or extreme guilt from slipping up, it may be easier to talk to someone you know understands your situation. Your peers can check in with you if they notice your absence from meetings and offer emotional support rooted in personal experience.
While you’re participating in a treatment program, you’ll have professional accountability in meeting your goals and overcoming your challenges. One major benefit of receiving inpatient treatment is 24/7 supervision by experienced professionals who know the signs of struggle, doubt, and impending relapse. If you’re in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or any other treatment plan, you’ll stay connected to your recovery professionals, though you won’t have the same amount of consistent guidance.
As you transition from inpatient to outpatient care and from outpatient to long-term recovery, it’s important to establish key contacts–people you can reach out to at any time, day or night, to keep you moving forward. These must be the professional resources you trust the most. It can be especially helpful to connect with a sponsor or mentor. These are guiding figures who have been in your shoes, achieved long-term sobriety, and can help you do the same by helping you navigate your daily life through the lens of recovery.
Sober companions, sober escorts, personal recovery assistants, and similar positions of different names are people who provide dedicated one-on-one relationships of accountability and encouragement. Unlike your peers in sobriety, sober companions are specifically trained and accredited to handle every aspect of daily life in recovery. A sober companion acts as an accountability partner who’s taken on the personal role of safeguarding your sobriety, overseeing your progress, and keeping you safe and proactive. It’s a highly individualized role. Your sober companion will know the full extent of your addiction and recovery. They’ll learn your warning signs, triggers, and habits and will be there to push you to act in your own best interests even when you don’t think you can.
A sober escort’s services will be tailored to your unique needs. They can get you access to treatment for symptoms of any co-occurring disorders or mental conditions, find you local 12-Step meetings, and arrange virtual therapy appointments. They can attend events with you to hold you accountable for your sobriety. Your sobriety escort can even get you the medical attention and handle emergencies in the event of relapse. Consult with your local recovery specialist to find a sobriety companion near you.
While completing treatment is a vital component of rising above addiction, the process doesn’t end there. The rollercoaster of life in recovery can prevent even the most strong-willed person from achieving their true potential without sufficient assistance. Accountability is a major factor in keeping you grounded and moving forward, and you don’t have to be the only one holding yourself accountable. We founded Hired Power to provide vital resources and support to those working to overcome their challenges and attain stability in sobriety. As the first company to professionalize transition services for those battling addiction, our goal is to bridge the gap between short-term treatment and long-term wellness by helping you take recovery home. We can create much-needed accountability that keeps you on track to meet your goals in every aspect of your life. Reach out to us today at 800.910.9299 to begin your journey towards lasting health and happiness.