According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, humans have five needs: psychological, safety, love and belonging needs, esteem, and self-actualization. After physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belonging. Belonging refers to the human emotional need for interpersonal relationships, affiliating, connection, and being part of a group.
Humans need humans. The hierarchy of needs clearly states that humans need social interaction in order to feel like they belong. Being part of a group and feeling connected is in our nature, and this is why it is crucial to make sure you have a supportive community in your corner. There is an immense amount of power in self, but at the end of the day, what is life if you do not have people you love to share it with?
Community and Treatment
Community is essential in the beginning stages of treatment. It can be easy to feel alone in this world, and even more so while battling mental health issues and addiction. Having loving people around who only want to see you succeed and accomplish your goals will add quality to your life. If you do not feel connected to anyone, it is easier to slip into self-sabotaging behaviors. With connection comes love, support, care, empathy, and understanding. Genuine relationships with people allow room for encouragement, motivation, and the ability to be able to relate to one another.
The Importance of Community
A healthy community is essential to maintaining and enjoying your healing. Connecting with others and creating a community has several benefits, including:
- Reminds you that you are not alone
- Provides support as you continue to make changes
- Offers accountability and encouragement
Creating a Community
Creating relationships in treatment will give you an outlet to talk about issues within your journey that you may not be able to talk about elsewhere. A sense of community may diminish the feeling of being misunderstood and dismissed by the rest of the population who does not understand what you are going through. The ability to be able to relate to another human being is something that does not come every day, and when it does, it should be cherished. Due to this, it is essential to create an environment for yourself that will promote success and healing.
Choosing Who You Spend Time and Energy On
If you are spending time with people who are indulging in unhealthy behaviors, such as self-medicating, odds are you will not find the healing and recovery you are searching for. It is far too easy to slip back into old behaviors, like using drugs and alcohol, when you are surrounded by people who do the same. These people will not encourage you to make healthy choices and be the best version of yourself.
It is said that you are the sum of the five people you spend most of your time with. In other words, you become your environment, and you become the people you are spending time with. With that being said, if you are creating a life involved with individuals also working towards or going through recovery, you are actively making an effort to save your own life.
Finding People Who Support You
During a time when you are getting honest with everything in your life and healing the root of your self-medication, you need real people in your life. These are people who will keep up with you and ask you about your treatment, ask you how you are doing, and express genuine concern for your well-being.
When you develop a sense of community with like-minded individuals, you may see various shifts in your life and recovery. Surrounding yourself with people who give you the space to show up as yourself – whether pleasant or unpleasant – can help you as you continue to heal. While in treatment and after treatment, you will not always be able to show up as your best self; that is unrealistic. Keeping people close that accept you as you can help you continue to flourish and grow.
How 449 Recovery Can Help
People in active addiction tend to thrive in secrecy. They often do not talk about their addiction with the people in their lives and tend to keep it hidden. However, treatment and recovery are all about honesty. In treatment, it is time to get honest with yourself and those around you.
At 449 Recovery, we provide various resources to rebuild and reconnect. There are many opportunities to start fresh and build long-lasting relationships with individuals who understand your battle. We can help you build a healthy community in and outside of treatment.
There is power in numbers, and there is power in being able to relate to the people you spend most of your time with. It is essential to develop a community for yourself during treatment because you are making considerable changes in your life. Having a group of people who love and support you can make a significant difference in your treatment experience. 449 Recovery is a mental health treatment center for individuals who suffer from maladaptive coping skills such as addiction. We can help you create a community of people in and out of treatment for continued recovery. Located in Mission Viejo, California, our goal is to integrate you back into the community at an improved level of functioning, using objective, evidence-based treatments. For more information on our program and the benefits of community in recovery, call 449 Recovery today at (949) 435-7449.