Addiction recovery is often a lifelong process that requires you to continue to develop healthy habits in treatment. The impact of volunteering on addiction recovery cannot be exaggerated. Positive activities provide an opportunity to give back to the community while gaining a sense of purpose and belonging. Read on to learn the importance of volunteering in addiction recovery and how to get started.
5 good volunteer service
Many addiction counselors and therapists recommend volunteering as a recovery activity for their psychological and social interests.
1. Promote social connection
A helper to recover addiction by helping you build bonds and strengthen connections. People with addiction can isolate themselves from their friends, family and social conditions, and volunteering can help them rebuild their support systems. Most volunteering involves interacting with new places in new places, which can help you avoid loneliness and restore the sense of belonging you may lose when you are suffering from addiction.
Whether you are working with children, adults, or animals, volunteering offers many opportunities for connection that can inspire your healing journey.
2. Encourage healthy habits
Living with addiction can feel confusing and make you feel lost or discouraged. Recovery is building healthy habits and structures, and volunteering is a healthy activity that provides a clear path in one direction. Working for the cause you believe in can provide a sense of purpose, allowing you to explore your passion and connect with the people who share your interests.
Helping others can also help you forget your own troubles and stay mentally stimulating. While unplanned time may make you prone to relapses, volunteering provides a positive way to fill your days and promote successful recovery.
3. Recent society
Volunteering can help you transition to society and routine. You can branch out, meet new people, and even step into the doorstep of an organization that makes sense to you. Even if you don’t want this activity to be a full-time job, volunteering allows you to connect and build professional relationships that may benefit you in the future.
While addiction can make you feel isolated from your entire family, friends, and society, volunteering is a great way to keep the world going. Working for a career means being positive, getting career opportunities and working to improve the community.
4. Purpose of providing
Volunteering can provide an addicted person with a sense of purpose, helping them break the cycle of isolation and provide a positive return place. People start counting on you, which is why you keep coming – to help those in need. Plus, while leaving treatment can sometimes make you feel vulnerable, volunteering provides a positive view. It can show you that you are not alone and that you can overcome the struggle.
Changing someone’s feelings about life makes essentially meaningful. Using your resources and skills to help people can make you feel good about yourself, increase your confidence, and give you a sense of purpose and achievement.
5. Reduce stress
When we help others, our brains release good chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that can relax naturally. While addiction can increase stress and anxiety in life, volunteering can help you divert your attention and relieve your concerns. Giving back to others can be a useful coping mechanism in recovery because it can make you happy and promote a sense of calmness. Reducing stress also means fewer health problems, such as high blood pressure, to support your recovery and healthy recovery.
How to volunteer in addiction recovery
Fortunately, during the recovery period, you will find many opportunities for volunteers. While volunteering has several advantages in recovery, remember to consult your therapist or recovery consultant before starting a new program. They can help you determine which items may be too stressful or involve triggers that may cause relapse. Here is how to find the organization and start:
- Connect with the Community Support Group: First, you may connect with your local support team and join others who have already volunteered. Or, if you’ve already been involved in an effort program, you can talk to your counselor about volunteering. Many programs have encouraged residents to help voluntarily. If you have a sponsor, you can ask them for advice on where to start.
- Explore volunteer opportunities: You can also quickly search online to find opportunities to attract your interest. Examples include food pantry, shelter for ruthless people, animal rescue centers, building or repairing houses such as habitats, crisis hotlines, and even addiction recovery centers. Whether you are donating goods, providing food, helping animals or advocates to address addiction or mental health issues, you will find a lot of activities to give back.
- Submit your application: Once you have selected some reasons for your interest, complete all the necessary applications and submit online by email or in person. If you need help with filling it out, you may ask your sponsor or another trusted person for help. If you don’t hear back within a few weeks, don’t give up. Keep applying and you will find a suitable opportunity.
Why Trust Diamond House Detox for Addiction Treatment
It is possible to recover from addiction – but why face the battle alone? Diamond House Detox provides a comprehensive treatment plan for residents in Northern California. We understand recovery is a lifelong process, so we provide ongoing care through outpatient treatment, support groups and sober shelter – providing evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy, and dual diagnostic therapy.
Our goal is to provide customers with a safe, comfortable environment when they focus on recovery, and we are proud to provide occasional medical services to help us achieve this. These services include real-time drug adjustments, medically assisted detox, on-site injections and more to support you with recovery. Read our recommendations to discover the differences our treatments make in your life.
Get comprehensive and compassionate addiction care in Diamond House detox
The path to healing will never really end, but making positive choices and investing in the well-being of your community can help you relieve stress in society, new pressures, and gain a sense of purpose and belonging. At Diamond House Detox, we can help you find opportunities for volunteers and other coping tips to promote successful recovery.
Our medical professionals will develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on your unique needs and adopt options such as individual and group therapy, medical detox, art therapy and dual diagnostic treatments. Each option is designed to help you recover from alcohol or drug use disorders and concurrent mental health conditions for a happier and fulfilling life.
Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive addiction treatment.
Vicky is a board certified family mental health nurse practitioner certified by the American Nurses Certification Center. She began her nursing career in health care by working in the intensive care unit and then in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After realizing the mental health needs of patients and serving their families, she became a psychiatric nurse. In working with clients, she developed a passion for those with dual diagnosis and specifically helped individuals recognize the issues that drive their substance use. This awareness is crucial to individuals’ success in therapy. Vicky turned on Diamond House detox so she could address these issues early in her therapeutic environment to enable clients to transition to the next level in recovery.
