Support groups offer a uniquely supportive community that fosters accountability, resilience, and hope available for free to all recovering addicts. For many people, meetings increase the chances of sobriety.[1]Â
- Recovery meeting frequency should reflect your needs, balancing life demands while supporting accountability and sobriety.
- Early recovery often requires more frequent meetings, while established sobriety may allow for gradual scaling down with caution.
- Increase meeting frequency during challenging times or if relapse risks arise, ensuring consistent support throughout your recovery journey.
Why recovery meetings matter
Benefits of attending recovery groups include:
- Camaraderie: Recovery groups are not just about meetings but about forming a network of supportive relationships that can provide competent emotional support and a sense of belonging during your recovery journey. [2]
- Help and accountability: Members often report back on progress, which reinforces personal accountability and builds trust within the group.
- Meaning: Many programs offer the possibility to sponsor newer members, empowering you to make the best of your experience by helping others.
- Hope and inspiration: Hearing other people's success stories and struggles is a valuable source of learning and inspiration.
Determining the right meeting frequency for you
Finding the best support group(s) for your recovery journey is a crucial first step to consistent attendance. [3] Frequency is personal, but sponsors or recovery coaches can help you determine and adjust your attendance based on your needs.
Below are some factors to consider when determining a frequency that might work for you.
Life balance
The more you attend meetings, the greater the potential benefits.[1] However, it’s essential to balance your recovery with life’s demands to avoid burnout. If attending all your meetings becomes challenging, explore online options to maintain your connection without added stress.
Stage of sobriety
During the early, critical stages of your recovery journey, in addition to professional treatment, you might start with several meetings a week—or even daily—by mixing virtual and in-person options to fit your needs.
Even years into sobriety, regular attendance helps maintain a sense of accountability and connection. Addiction is a lifelong journey, and consistent effort helps prevent setbacks.
Decreasing meeting frequency should be evaluated carefully with the help of a sponsor.
Consistency and flexibility
No matter where you are in your recovery, consistency builds a strong foundation. Set a realistic minimum for weekly meetings and commit to it, adjusting gradually as needed.
While maintaining consistency is important, life’s unpredictability may require flexibility.
Circumstances outside of your control might challenge your recovery journey.
If you face major triggers, like losing a job or a loved one, lean on your community and attend more meetings for added support. If you have a history of relapse, consider increasing the frequency of meetings to get the support you need.
Different groups might offer different benefits
Some individuals benefit from attending different types of groups, such as spiritually based and science-based, while others prefer to stick to one or the other. [3]Â
Only you can determine what works best for your unique situation, but you are not alone in your recovery journey.
How to adjust meeting attendance as your recovery progresses
As your recovery journey proceeds and you become more settled into sobriety, you might decide to decrease the number of meetings you attend. Conversations with a sponsor, coach, or mental health counselor might help you determine if your current attendance is appropriate or if you may attempt to adjust.
Avoid abrupt changes and monitor carefully your state of mind after decreasing the number of meetings you attend.
A history of relapse or feeling that you might relapse are good indicators that you might need to increase the number of meetings you attend. Changes in circumstances outside your control, such as a career change or losing a loved one, might increase your risk of relapsing.
Increase the frequency of your meetings to get the support you need during rough patches and while facing triggers. Recovery is not a linear journey.
Signs it’s time to increase the frequency
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it might be a good idea to increase the frequency of your support group meetings or find different groups that make you feel better supported.
- Feeling overwhelmed or anxious, cravings
- Diminished self-care
- Loss of structure (routines and commitments)
- Negative changes in behavior (such as increased isolation, secrecy, or dishonesty)
- Loss of accountability (as in missing meetings or avoiding sponsors)
- Romanticizing substance use (as in reminiscing about "good times" associated with past substance use)
Signs it might be safe to scale back
If you feel stable, have no cravings, and meetings "sneak up on you," you might want to consider scaling down. Do so gradually, carefully, and under the supervision of a sponsor.
Be mindful of complacency or overconfidence that may accompany reduced attendance. For example, if you are attending five meetings per week but feel stable enough to decrease, consider scaling down to four meetings per week for a month or two before decreasing further.
Increase your number of meetings again as needed at the first signs of restlessness.
Finding your ideal balance
Your ideal balance will keep you safe while allowing you to manage life obligations such as family, work, and friends. However, sobriety should be your priority so that you can effectively manage the rest of your life.
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