The Role of Social Media in Addiction Recovery
Recovering from drug or alcohol addiction is a lifelong process that requires continual change and adaptation. Social media has become such a big part of our lives that it’s become influential enough to make or break our recovery progress. Social media has become a significant part of our social fabric, and this can have either positive or negative effects on people recovering from addiction. Because it’s better to have the upper hand in these situations, our Palm Beach rehab is sharing ways social media and addiction recovery can work hand-in-hand.
How Social Media & Addiction Recovery Work Together
One of the most beneficial uses of social media for addiction recovery is the large recovery community and constant accessibility to peer support. The use of online sobriety apps and support groups can expand an individual’s circle to include people they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Additionally, the like-minded camaraderie of social media sobriety apps and groups can keep people accountable and aid in relapse prevention. Peers can also share relapse prevention techniques online as well as personal struggles and achievements to encourage others and offer them positive guidance. Social media for sobriety also offers the benefit of constant availability to people in the recovery community and resources for addiction recovery. Because most social media sites are accessible all over the world, people from different regions are accessing them to communicate with people who can understand what they’re going through. For people in addiction recovery, the need for support can span into hours when they don’t have a support group of people at home. During these times, social media addiction recovery support can help. Additionally, the anonymity of online interactions and chat rooms can also create a sense of safety and privacy for people who may not feel comfortable talking about their addiction in-person. Being able to share and confide in people who have no other connections to your life outside of social media can also be liberating, encourage transparency, and enable the individual to listen more openly. The general support of friends and family on social media can also benefit a person’s addiction recovery journey. Some people may also feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts through written posts than speaking face-to-face. In this way, social media also serves as an additional form of communication for people in recovery.
Social Media Triggers
While sober social media apps can be helpful, even from those that aren’t intended for sobriety, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, there are also some triggers to be aware of. Feelings of loneliness in recovery are common, and this might increase social media use to connect with others. While this is a healthy way to connect with others, it can also be linked to triggers that could cause urges to use or drink. One major trigger that’s prevalent in social media is comparison. A person in recovery who looks at the glowing, happy posts of others might feel that theirs is inadequate in comparison. However, it’s important to remember that most people on social media only post the highlights of their lives and not so much their day-to-day struggles. Comparing yourself to others online can lead to negative self-evaluation, reduced self-esteem, and lack of self-confidence, all of which can stimulate the urge to use or drink to self-cope. In addition to this risk, many people, unfortunately, use social media to sell and buy drugs, which could be a terrible temptation for someone in addiction recovery. It’s also important to be mindful of the people you follow on social media. Whether it’s a celebrity or a friend, if they post a lot about drug or alcohol use, it might trigger some cravings and urges. Even if your followers abstain from these kinds of posts, you should also be mindful of advertisements and other content that promotes drinking or drug use in some way that can pop up.
Begin Your Recovery Today
Sober social media apps can have many benefits in your recovery, but one must remember that triggers can pop up anywhere. The recovery process is lifelong, and while social media and addiction recovery work hand-in-hand, apps aren’t a replacement for professional support. If you or someone you care about has a substance use disorder, don’t hesitate to reach out to our luxury drug and alcohol rehab in South Florida. Our facility offers various levels of addiction care to offer clients in all stages of individualized recovery care. We also offer family services to help clients rebuild broken relationships, as well as aftercare services to help them stay on track after rehab. For more information about our mental health and addiction treatment in Florida, call Seaside Palm Beach today at 561-677-9374. Related Reading: Sober Vacations for Recovering Addicts What Is the Point of Non-Alcoholic Beer?
