In The Rooms: Online Peer Support & Recovery Community

What is "In The Rooms"?

In The Rooms is a website that people in recovery can use to access meetings, connect to others, seek professional support, and learn more about health and wellbeing. It is a global recovery community, focusing on addiction recovery. People can sign up for an account and join online or in-person meetings and find out more about available resources and services.

Benefits and who it is for

In The Rooms is for anyone currently facing addiction, including substances, gambling, sex, or other types of addictions, whether they have entered recovery or are just beginning their process. It is also for the friends and families of these people, who want to learn more about their loved one’s experience and how to help.

Benefits of In The Rooms include: ^[1][2][3]

• Accessibility: People can access information and meetings online, meaning that they do not have to travel to different locations and can be involved in a range of meetings and community support.
• Information: In The Rooms provides information, blogs, and treatment resources. This includes information about addiction and recovery, building relationship skills, support for friends and family, and ways to improve mental and physical health.
• Community: In The Rooms includes community forums, where members can discuss topics together, share their own experiences, and provide support and advice to one another.
• Learning from others: People using In The Rooms can include those who have not yet entered recovery and those who have been in recovery for some time. This can help people entering recovery to learn from the experiences of others, potentially leading to more positive engagement and outcomes by improving confidence and motivation in the recovery process.
• Locating services: The website helps people find online and in-person meetings, rehab services, and other types of treatment services in their area.

Limitations and considerations

Potential limitations and considerations include: ^[2]

• Missing out on in-person interactions: People who use In The Rooms only for the online meetings and online discussions may be missing out on the potential benefits of in-person meetings, social connections, and community activities. While convenient, digital spaces can limit emotional and social connections and could cause reduced involvement and engagement in meetings, which can impair recovery benefits.
• Online vs. in-person non-verbal cues: Attending meetings online can also impact how comfortable people feel within the group. Joining online meetings via camera can mean that only the person’s face is seen by the group. This can cause negative impacts such as increased anxiety, and can reduce the ability to communicate through non-verbal cues, which may impact the group’s overall behavior and interaction.
• Technology issues: Internet connections and technological issues can impact people’s access to online meetings and resources.
• Lacking internet access: Some individuals do not have consistent access to electronic devices or the internet for financial reasons, which serves as a barrier to using this website. Public spaces such as libraries can help with this, but do not offer much privacy and may be unaccommodating for some, especially those with limited transportation or those who live in rural areas.

In The Rooms vs. Other recovery options

In The Rooms incorporates all aspects of recovery, including 12-step facilitation such as Alcoholics Anonymous, mental health and mindfulness approaches, and support that is specific to certain groups. This enables people of diverse religions, mindsets, and experiences to access suitable and helpful services tailored to their individual needs.

In The Rooms can be a beneficial tool for people in recovery and may be best used as an adjunct to additional recovery options, such as counseling, rehab, and in-person support groups. ^[2][3] Many counselors and therapists recommend that their clients use apps and online support alongside their services, and there is evidence to suggest enhanced treatment outcomes with this approach. ^[3][4]

Generally, people in recovery will benefit most from a comprehensive treatment approach, involving different aspects of therapeutic support, social support, and medications where necessary. Treatment and recovery needs can vary from person to person and should be tailored to meet their requirements.

How to get started & getting the most from In The Rooms

In The Rooms provides two guides to help people get started:

• A Guide for Those Seeking Recovery: The first guide includes information about the recovery process and types of services available, such as professional support for people at the start of their recovery journey, what to expect during rehab and recovery, health impacts and facts about addiction, and books or resources to read when starting the recovery process.
• A Guide for Friends, Family, and Allies: The second guide includes information for families and friends to recognize and manage signs of addiction in their loved one, learn how to communicate and support their loved one, and understand the treatment process.

People can use In The Rooms as much or as little as they like, choosing how much to engage in meetings, read different blog posts, share their experiences, and connect with others. People in recovery may benefit more from a more extensive involvement in the website, as this can provide more in-depth support and resources.