3 Tips for Building and Maintaining a Social Life for Sober Teens and Young Adults
--
Whether it’s at home or at school, many kids and young adults in recovery miss out on opportunities to hang out with their friends because of the stigma around drug use and addiction. I started drinking when I was 14, and I wish I never had, but the pressure to do what your friends are doing and build a group of people you love to hang out with is hard.
Here are some tips for building and maintaining a social life in sobriety:
Create a Support System
In order to build and maintain a social life, you need to find people who will support you. Friends or family members who understand what it’s like to be sober could be helpful.
It could also mean joining support groups for people struggling with addiction, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). There are plenty of groups just for people your age!
If possible, try to find others who have been through similar struggles as yours so that they can relate on a deeper level than most other people would be able to. For example, if someone has struggled with depression or anxiety before but is now sober because of it — or vice versa — that person will be more likely than most others to not only understand what it’s like but also know how best to help themselves when difficult times arise again down the road!
Don’t Underestimate the Influence of Social Media
Social media can be a great way to meet people and stay in touch with your friends. It’s an especially good option if you’re just getting sober because it allows you to connect with people who are going through the same thing as you.
Social media can also help with finding support and resources for staying sober. You can join groups on Facebook or Twitter where other young adults share their experiences, talk about struggles they faced when first getting clean, and offer advice on ways to deal with difficult situations that might come up as time goes on (like parties).
