It is hard to meet people in sobriety. It is difficult to put yourself out there and start new relationships with people, even if they are in the same boat as you with recovery. If you are frustrated and struggling with where your direction in life is at this point, you are not alone. Lots of people are struggling alongside you, but not all of them have the same mentality. You may meet some people who are healthy and some who are toxic. There may be people in between who can just get on your nerves because they are not working sobriety in a healthy way. Find out why the people you meet in recovery can help your sobriety, but only if you know who to look out for on the journey.
When They’re Annoying
Some people may be seen as annoying in recovery for many reasons. Mostly, on the surface, they rub you the wrong way and you cannot seem to ignore them. They may have something to say that is enlightening or inspiring. Even if the person in your 12-step meeting is talking a lot about how great he is or what he has accomplished, it may be a chance to talk to him about what inspires you and how you are excited to learn from him. It may be an opportunity waiting in the wings to learn from someone (even if it does not seem so upfront).
Practice Patience
Meeting new people is difficult in recovery. Patience does not come to people naturally. Many people are prone to fly off the handle when things don’t go their way. Dealing with someone who is obnoxious and turns you off when they open their mouth gives you a shot at practicing patience. When you know your limit is reached, you can practice boundaries and walk away.
Work Those Triggers
Standing strong in the face of triggers is really difficult. People are one of the biggest triggers out there, whether or not they are sober. They can say or do things or push your limits to a point it feels unsustainable. Annoying behaviors can define you, especially when you are in recovery. People come into your path because they help you figure out who you are and develop your sense of self and world view.
Practice Gratitude
In sobriety, you will get a lot of chances to practice gratitude. If you are in line at the store or on a plan, you can lose interest quickly. It can become a reminder of how lucky you are to have people in your life who love to hear from you or spend time together. It can help you practice gratitude if people are getting on your nerves, acting inappropriately, or trying to derail your recovery and bring you down. If you are healthy and moving towards functional relationships, you can grow away from those annoyances and begin to find hope and healing.
A Step in the Right Direction provides quality sober living for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through community building, accountability, and healthy living. Our sober living program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information about sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (818) 921-7132.
