Your time in treatment is all about you. Part of working on you involves making friends and creating connection with those around you.
Look For The Similarities, Not The Differences
Going to treatment for rehabilitation of a mental health disorder or a substance use disorder isn’t typically a life goal of most people. However, it isn’t something to be ashamed of. Making the decision to ask for help and enter treatment is courageous and often necessary for saving your life. Still, common prejudices and defense mechanisms can get in the way, preventing you from making the connections with yourself and with others in treatment you need to recover. You might think you aren’t like them and want to separate yourself from them. Instead, look for what is similar. Maybe you share nothing more than a common drug of choice. Perhaps you find similarities in life stories and experiences. Whatever common ground you can find, make a connection and keep in mind you’re not alone.
Remember The Common Goal
There shouldn’t be any lie about it: not everyone takes treatment seriously. For some people, treatment is an opportunity to avoid family criticisms, evade judicial rulings, or many other circumstances which don’t involve really wanting to recover. Most other people see treatment as a matter of black and white- life or death. Sick, unhappy, and unwell, they know they have to be there and take it seriously. Who is serious and who is not will never be your judgment to make. Rather than take inventory of everyone’s commitment, just remember everyone is there for the same reason- to get well again. Despite differences and even conflicts, you can rest in your assuredness that you have a common goal.
Allow Yourself To Trust
At least for the time being. The people you are in treatment with are on a special journey with you. Each day, you’re exposing your deepest vulnerabilities, untold stories, and raw emotions to one another. You may not like them. You may not totally trust them. For the time being, you must learn to accept the fact that they are there, and they are going to be there. People in treatment with you might not become your best friends for the rest of your life. During this time of your life in treatment, however, they are the people you have to support you, give you feedback, and bear witness to the beginning of your transformation. If you completely hold yourself back, you impede upon your ability to have a happy and healthy treatment time. You won’t show up as authentically, meaning you can’t go into the depths you could otherwise. As a result, you don’t get the most out of treatment, and you can’t show up fully to help others.
Have Empathy And Compassion
You’ve learned to recognize that everyone is on a journey in recovery and they’re doing their best to recover, just like you are. Everyone in treatment has their own story to tell. Within their stories there are similarities and differences to yours. Since you are experiencing your own journey and have experienced your own struggles up to this point, you can empathize with everyone’s experience. More importantly, you can cultivate a sense of compassion for them, finding kindness in your heart for them.
Avalon By The Sea offers residential treatment programs for both primary mental health and substance use disorders. Our stunning estate houses both of our beautiful facilities dedicated to total healing of mind, body, and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information on our programs, call us today at 1 888-958-7511.
