Staying Connected to Your Recovery

THANK YOU to everyone who read and commented on my first blog entry. There were a lot of great questions and topic ideas mentioned, and I promise that I’m going to get around to each one. If you have any more questions or topics you’d like addressed, please let me know in the comments!

I’m so pleased at how open this community is. I have to be honest - I was worried that my admission that I’m not in a 12-step program would really upset some people. While not everyone agrees with my approach, I was happy to be met with acceptance and support. It’s amazing and reassuring that the focus can remain on RECOVERY without arguing over what the “best” path is to get there. We all struggle with our inner demons, but what’s most important is that we don’t pick up and we keep striving to be a better person, everyday.

In case it needs clarification, though, I’d like to say again that I am not against 12-step programs. For many people, AA and other fellowships are lifesavers. I think they’re awesome and effective, and I’d encourage everyone to try them out, give them an honest chance, and decide for themselves! I digress.

I’d like to touch on another way I stay sober, and that’s by staying connected to my recovery.

The main way I stay connected to my recovery is through writing about addiction. The research I do and words I write help me keep recovery in the forefront of my mind. Writing for the Sober Nation audience gives me an outlet and a purpose. Each person reading this is so important to me and helps me so much more than I can express. Maybe it sounds sappy, but it’s true! I’ve always been a writer by trade, but writing for the recovery community is more fulfilling than any type of work I’ve done… but enough about me!

How do YOU stay connected to your recovery? What ways of staying connected to your recovery would you recommend to someone else who is struggling? Please let all of us know what works for you. In the meantime, here are some popular suggestions:

Reading: Reading about addiction and recovery can help you learn about new tools for self-improvement and new perspectives to consider. Whether you’re reading the Big Book, Sober Nation articles, ebooks, online forums, or anything else, exercising your mind is important for recovery. If you have any suggestions for recovery-related reading material, please share!

Volunteering: Volunteering your time and energy to help someone else or contribute to a positive cause is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Helping others is a great way to keep your priorities straight, build self-confidence, and remember how grateful you are for your recovery.

Journaling: Whether you share your writing with anyone else or not, journaling will help you process your emotions. Writing about your past experiences and the things that are important to you now will help you keep recovery fresh in your mind.

What would you add to the list?

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store).