Intensive outpatient care programs (IOPs) can only be completed by the individual affected by addiction and substance use challenges. However, this does not (and should not) mean that the patient must undergo an IOP alone.
Building a strong support system during an intensive outpatient program offers numerous benefits, improving outcomes and creating a more achievable process that is easier for individuals to sustain. It also sets them up for long-term success and can provide benefits in areas of life unrelated to addiction treatment.
However, the task of building a support system may seem daunting to those already experiencing difficulties with substance use, emotional fluctuations, lifestyle issues, or various challenges that often accompany addiction. Understanding how to create a supportive network that promotes success is just as important as the efforts made toward sobriety.
Why Support Really Matters During Outpatient Care
Support from friends, family, and other resources is invaluable for short- and long-term success during intensive outpatient programs. While the emotional aspect of having people “in your corner” during treatment is essential, studies have also demonstrated more tangible benefits.
Lower failure rate
In the context of addiction recovery through participation in an IOP, “failure” does not only refer to relapse; it also includes falling short of completing the intensive outpatient programming. Some individuals may stop attending their meetings or completing other tasks associated with the IOP. Studies indicate that those who engaged with peers to build relationships during the intensive outpatient program were more likely to complete the program than those who remained alone throughout the process.
Support systems encourage people to stay committed to the program. This level of accountability can help individuals through the most challenging aspects of the program as they learn resilience and acquire necessary coping skills.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding refers to the process of creating supports from all directions to keep someone safe and in place while they work; similarly, a person who is supported by others and can lean on their strength will themselves become more stable over time. This support may exist in the form of accountability partners, sources of empathy, and more. Each person’s emotional and situational needs are different, and thus so will be their ideal supports.
Relapse prevention
Another central function of support systems during and after participation in an intensive outpatient program is relapse prevention. While a person may relapse at any time, they are most likely to do so within the first few months after leaving their program. By having a strong support system during this time, participants can enjoy greater accountability and may conform to positive pressure (the favorable converse of peer pressure).
Studies show that when a person leverages supportive tools such as group meetings, they are less than a third as likely to relapse compared to peers who do not participate in groups or engage in other frequent socialization opportunities.
Whether it is through contact with people who understand the participant’s situation through personal experience or family who provide essential resources when they are needed most, support relieves some of the pressures that can lead to relapse.
Interpersonal engagement
Support does not necessarily hinge exclusively on interpersonal communication. In some instances, building a supportive environment involves utilizing the tools that others have equipped the participant with so that they can thrive on their own.
For example, attending a support group can give the individual access to or awareness of resources such as apps, mentorships, employment opportunities, or other important tools that may assist their progress. In this way, the support system serves not just emotional and mental functions but also provides tangible changes, even when the participant is no longer in contact with those specific individuals.
How to Build a Strong Support System
A reliable support system is imperative during rehabilitation, but many participants may not know how to start. It is important to remember that those who an individual chooses to be part of their community are just as important as those whom they do not. It is better to maintain a small but close circle than to boast dozens of minimally-engaged supporters.
Attend to personal relationships
The first and largest step toward creating a strong support system is to consider existing personal relationships. This step may involve purposefully implementing more consistent contact with family members and trusted friends or addressing lingering issues that have previously inhibited close relationships with these individuals.
Nurture existing connections through regular communication and make it a point to express gratitude for any help received. Providing support during this time may require a loved one’s time, effort, and even expenses. While many are willing and eager to provide these needed resources, their sacrifices should be met with genuine appreciation.
Communicate clearly
While friends and family may be excited to offer support, they cannot do so effectively if they do not understand a recovering individual’s goals, challenges, and needs. It is essential to communicate clearly with anyone who will be a part of a person’s support group during recovery so everyone understands the process.
What will their role be? What boundaries do they need in place for maintaining emotional wellness and a balanced life outside of providing support? What does the person in recovery need in order to thrive in their new routines and overcome challenges?
Stay engaged with the community
When participating in an intensive outpatient program, friends and family members are the most common sources of support. However, it is important to diversify support options and create a more well-rounded scaffold by staying engaged with the community.
Local events such as sports, volunteering, hobby groups, and more can keep the individual connected with others. This engagement helps forge new friendships and support new hobbies and passions that bring enrichment and fulfillment, decreasing the likelihood of returning to a substance as a coping mechanism later.
Additionally, community involvement spreads the support role across more people so as not to impose upon loved ones with other commitments and constraints.
Try therapy
Maintaining relationships with others is essential for building a support network. Sometimes therapy can be a good choice to mend or improve those relationships. A therapist can help someone participating in an intensive outpatient program understand how their actions and thought processes impact those around them. Similarly, those who are ready to be supporters can discover more about their roles and how best to fulfill them.
In some cases, an intensive outpatient program may include methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants are encouraged to invest time in such therapy and use it to create strategies for managing their behaviors, both with others and with themselves, after the treatment program has concluded.
Distance where needed
A support system works best when it is filled with individuals who each serve specific roles. For example, a friend group can provide camaraderie and an opportunity to explore hobbies and activities together, whereas family may offer a space to be vulnerable.
Counselors or therapists can address challenges as they arise, and IOP or group therapy peers can provide empathy and share experiences in ways that others may not understand. This diversity is an enormous asset for anyone recovering from addiction or substance use.
However, participants must curate the support structures they build, maintaining connections with those they trust and can rely on. Consider maintaining a healthy distance from individuals who may make recovery more challenging, including judgmental people, those who are emotionally exhausting to be around, or bad influences such as old friends who engage in behaviors that may trigger a relapse.
Choose positive influences, and be confident in the decision to cease contact with those who would encourage or facilitate a return to addictive behaviors.
Focus on the self
Many participants in an intensive outpatient program fail to recognize that one of the foundational pillars of a strong support structure is themselves. Family and friends can provide a substantial amount of encouragement, but recovery can make little progress without one’s own sense of self.
Begin by focusing on self-care through simple choices such as adjusting daily routines. Incorporate a small opportunity to enjoy a hobby or create a new eating plan to make mealtimes simpler, healthier, or more fulfilling. Consider how to boost physical and mental health, and create a plan for what to do in emergencies (such as when a trigger arises that may lead to relapse).
IOP Do Not Need to Be Done Alone
Any intensive outpatient program will focus on providing new strategies for an individual to overcome their addiction. However, the participant needs to spend time during the IOP cultivating a support structure that will help them continue to succeed after the outpatient program concludes.
Whether this is made of friends, family, mental health professionals, IOP peers, or others depends on the person, but this group should be carefully curated. Establish clear communication, stay engaged in meaningful relationships, and take care of yourself for the best results. Contact Aquila Recovery Clinic to get started in an intensive outpatient program and get the help you need, not just to overcome addiction but to build a lasting circle of support.