Facebook for Motivated Recovery Posted by Into Action Treatment on July 13, 2015 in Articles, We Do Recover The most important thing to do once you are sober is find every way you can to STAY sober! Complacency, the overconfidence that can slowly creep in during long periods of sobriety is a common enemy among recovery alcoholics and addicts. Prevention, the word every recovery addict becomes familiar with along the way to sobriety, is the only way to avoid complacency. It is understandably difficult to maintain the same sense of urgency and single-minded resolve to any action or goal from start to finish; however, there are telltale signs of complacency that every recovering addict should be aware of:
Signs of Complacent Attitude Towards Recovery • Skipping support group meetings and events; feeling like you are “dragging” yourself to meetings and events • Neglecting to call your sponsor or check-in with a sober support peer • Neglecting basic care, such as sleep, eating, and physical exercise; losing one’s “daily routine” • Rekindling former friendships with active users, returning to old habits, and revisiting places connected to your active use • Feeling like you are “recovered” and no longer need replacement medications, such as methadone or Suboxone
Beware of the good times is the common warning of AA and NA veterans who understand the dangers of complacency and its potential to cause relapse. However, the current generation of recovering addicts has more tools readily available to aid them in maintaining sobriety than any generation before them.
Using Facebook for Sobriety Maintenance
Facebook is still one of the most popular and widely used social media platform. People, young and old, enjoy posting pictures, quotes, memes, and daily updates to the profiles and looking at the postings of their friends, family, and even people who they’ve lost touch with in the past. Organizations and businesses have also joined Facebook to promote their brand or company and create a more personalized relationship with clients and customers. Facebook’s popularity has also made it an ideal “meeting” place for the Anonymous recovery and 12-Step programs with privacy options, including “closed” groups and “secret” groups. The unique features of closed groups and secret groups ensure that members can remain “anonymous” while also engaging in discussions and supporting other members in recovery. Organizations, like the National Institute of Drug Abuse, have joined Facebook to increase awareness about new research, current trends, and policies that influence legislation and healthcare practices and affect the lives of people struggling with substance abuse disorders and recovering from addiction.
The Facebook website and its apps make it an invaluable tool for avoiding complacency in recovery. Members of AA and NA can communicate on FB through messaging and posts, creating a virtual meeting that is accessible 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. Some pages, like “Alcoholics Anonymous Quotes Each Day” post short quotes that can help boost motivation and inspire positive thinking throughout the day. Members can also post their own messages of inspiration and support, and share daily thoughts, feelings, and struggles and read those of other members. Short updates and wall postings can be therapeutic and motivational for members working at recovery, one day at a time.
Facebook pages related to addiction and recovery
Closed Groups: • Alcoholics Anonymous Quotes Each Day • Narcotics Anonymous Message • Benzodiazepine Recovery
• Opiate Addiction Recovery • Crystal Meth Awareness Support • Prescription Drug Dangers
Community Pages: • Teen Drug Addiction Awareness • American Society of Addiction Medicine
Government Organizations & Non-Profits: • Partnership Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse • National Institute on Drug Abuse