Support groups and group therapy are critical tools in addiction treatment and recovery. However, for these groups to be effective, individuals must be comfortable speaking up and sharing their personal experiences with others. These activities can be incredibly difficult for someone who is an introvert.
People should never change who they are—introverts do not have to become extroverts to reap the benefits of group support. However, becoming more comfortable with sharing in the group may be crucial for recovery.
If you are an introvert struggling to become more comfortable at group meetings, remember that even extroverts sometimes struggle with speaking up and sharing their stories. However, you do not have to be an extrovert to recover successfully. All you need are tools to help you feel comfortable in this environment, so you feel able and confident to share your stories.
In a nutshell, extroversion and introversion describe where people get their energy from. We gather energy from different sources depending on our personalities.
While many think that people are either extroverts or introverts, that is, in fact, not the case. Individuals can be both extroverted and introverted depending on several factors. So what do the words extrovert and introvert mean?
According to Healthline, researchers use five traits to study personality. In addition to the extrovert-introvert spectrum, these traits include openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Being more extroverted means, you are energized through interaction with the outside world. That includes being around people and going places. Extroverted individuals often enjoy working in groups, like experiencing new things, can make friends easily, and having an easier time expressing themselves.
Some research indicates that extroversion is linked to the part of the brain that controls certain behaviors. While there is a vast amount of research on the subject, it is vital to know that it does not matter whether you are more extroverted or introverted; you can still successfully recover from substance use disorder (SUD).
Individuals who are more introverted fall on the other side of the spectrum. People typically think of introverts as quiet, shy, and even socially backward or awkward, but these do not define what introversion truly is. Being introverted means, people get their energy from alone time and often feel drained by social interaction. They tend to think about things carefully, are good at visualizing, inventing, or creating, are excellent listeners, and enjoy spending time alone.
Introverts can be just as sociable as extroverts. The most significant difference is that someone more introverted may need time alone to recharge. Socializing can be exhausting for introverts, whereas extroverts thrive off it.
Group therapy has several benefits. You can benefit from listening to what others share; sharing your experiences can be just as invaluable.
One of the benefits of group therapy is that it can strengthen your interpersonal relationships. A misconception about introverts is that they lack interpersonal skills and tend to avoid conflict. While this assessment is not necessarily true across the board, for those who may avoid conflict, strengthening interpersonal skills may be crucial for life post-treatment.
Additionally, group therapy will give you an easy way to help you build your sober support network. Extroverts sometimes make friends and connections easily, but introverts may have a harder time. Your time during treatment will hopefully offer you the tools necessary to strengthen your social networks. Now, doing so in support group meetings is merely practice.
Group therapy is often utilized in a treatment setting. Now that you are in recovery consider getting or staying in contact with a support group. For introverts, becoming comfortable with strangers is no easy task. Remember that they may have just as much of a hard time feeling comfortable, especially when new to recovery.
Admittedly, becoming more comfortable with your support group is not an exact science. Some things take time. However, the first way to become more comfortable is to push past the discomfort and continue going. The more time you spend around these individuals and listening to their stories, the more comfortable you will become. Over time you may find common ground with the people you meet. One day, you might feel comfortable sharing your story and taking comfort that at least one person took something positive away from it.
You can also discuss concerns with your therapist, counselor, or a trusted confidante. Someone who knows you well will be able to offer practical advice about how you can feel more comfortable in your support group.
Sharing your personal experience with addiction and recovery takes strength and courage. Even the most extroverted of people may struggle to do so. Be patient with yourself and others. Over time, you can grow more comfortable sharing your story.
A critical part of addiction recovery is having a support network of peers to share your experiences with. Listening to the stories of others helps you, especially when you are new to recovery. However, sharing your stories is also important. Not only does sharing help others, but it also keeps you accountable as well. Sharing your personal stories can be difficult, especially if you are an introvert. You don't have to change who you are, but growing more comfortable with support groups, group therapy, and sharing your experience will aid your recovery. To learn more about treatment, addiction, and sobriety, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400. We can help you get more comfortable sharing your story today.
