The recovery process can be a rigorous and demanding process, full of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual challenges that are often brand new to us. We can find ourselves overwhelmed and anxious with the whole undertaking. One of the things designed to help us through the process is group therapy, which like individual therapy, can be very beneficial to our recovery. Unlike traditional therapy, we’re in a group setting with other people in recovery, sharing and exploring our stories collectively. Group therapy has some specific, unique benefits.
Approaching therapy, many of us for the first time, can be intimidating and scary. Group therapy can be particularly anxiety-inducing because many of us are nervous to share personal details and sensitive information with other people. Speaking in public is a huge fear for many of us, and when it comes to difficult, private issues, it can be terrifying. Group therapy, therefore, can really challenge us and push us out of our comfort zone. It can be a test of our courage and strength. When we rise to the challenge, we’re often surprised at our resilience. We feel confident in ourselves, sometimes for the first time. We develop a sense of self-assuredness that can come with challenging ourselves. We start to believe in ourselves again. We start to regain our faith in ourselves and our abilities.
Living with addiction, many of us have isolated ourselves to such an extent that we’ve been alone with our pain for years. We can come to feel that no one can understand us or relate to us, that we’re alone in our experience. Group therapy can remind us of the universal nature of addiction, mental health issues, and emotional pain. We find solace in hearing other people’s stories. We’re encouraged to come out of our shell and self-imposed isolation. We start to drop our guard and let people in. We receive support from fellow patients and give support in return. We connect with other people in a profound way, something many of us haven’t done in a long time. We start to feel like we’re part of a community, and this can help us to feel empowered and validated, understood and heard. We develop friendships with other people in recovery, which can become lifelong sources of support and connection. When we don’t feel so alone, it can do wonders for our depression and anxiety, creating room for transformative healing.
Group therapy is an important part of the treatment programs at Bayview Recovery. Call us today for more information on how we can support you: 888-570-7154.
