Soon after Wulf and I launched the Recovery Voices website, he wrote a blog post with the above title. Wulf often cites the much-heard phrase from those still doing alcohol or other drugs, or those in recovery: ‘It is easier to get off than it is to stay off.’ The following are a selection of his most important words in that post:
‘… for individuals in early recovery, trying to make changes, then just being with other individuals who have achieved a long period of recovery becomes inspirational and motivational. Recovery is contagious.
Shared activities—such as bowling, boxing, climbing, cooking, dancing, eating, film watching, fishing, knitting, painting, running, skating, talking, and walking—when done in groups become enjoyable, learning, safe and rewarding pastimes. Such activities fill the time void of all the previous time spent maintaining unhealthy habits or attending endless professional appointments. They also help people develop knowledge and skills in ways of doing other stuff they like.
Being in an active recovery community is fun. It even shows people they can have fun again. It helps that process of reconnecting with the old passions lost to alcohol and drugs, or developing new alternative ones. These are the things that sustain us through the mundaneness, pressures and stresses of daily living.
Recovery communities are invariably seven days a week, from morning until bedtime, (if not through the night) and active in public holiday windows. The hours beyond Monday-Friday 9-5 are often the hardest and loneliest of times for those making change. The times when the professional and paid agency has long shut up shop… Recovery communities are there literally beyond treatment services. Recovery communities are maintained by those who freely give, rather than being of the paid contractual disposition.
Importantly, they also allow for the development of close friendships. The sharing of human interaction in a manner in which the professional agencies do not support, and even guard against. It is this closeness, the human bond, the feeling of being loved and loving others, which also sustains us.
And, like healthy families, recovery communities are there to listen and challenge. They provide the safe space in which risk-taking and growth, with all the bumps, falls and tears that come along the way, can be held and nurtured. The safe space is the warm blanket from which individuals can venture forth into the world of community service, employment and study; and then to safely return.
More importantly, recovery communities extend into the economic, residential and social fabric of the location. They become good neighbours. And like all good neighbours, they help others around them in times of need. They add, rather than detract, in terms of value. They instigate community activities.
… we need recovery communities because they change the dialogue. They are helping fix a treatment system that has struggled to solve its revolving door issues. They illustrate to society that even those who have been the ‘worst’ can become among the best. And, critically, they provide the space that ultimately enables individuals to ‘stay off’. Through shared friendship, journeys, knowing and love, they help sustain…’