Different Types of Support Groups
When people think of support groups for addiction, Twelve Step groups are generally the first thing to come to mind. Twelve Step groups can be a great option for some people, but there are other choices as well. Here are the basics of a few different support groups.
Alcoholics Anonymous: The first Twelve Step group, this focuses on the idea that addiction comes from a spiritual sickness, and by trusting in the god of your own understanding and performing steps to get right with god, addiction can be overcome.
Narcotics Anonymous: This was started after Alcoholics Anonymous, but follows the same steps, focusing on drug addiction.
Al-Anon/Nar-Anon: These are groups for friends and families of people struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
Dual Diagnosis Anonymous: This is another twelve step program for people with both mental health and addiction diagnoses.
Celebrate Recovery: This is another twelve step program but focuses on the Christian God as everyone’s higher power of their own understanding. Any addiction or even repetitive negative behavior, such as anger, is welcome here.
Smart Recovery: “In SMART we focus on learning coping skills that work well both short- and long-term. We base our ideas on what addiction science has shown to be effective. We have adapted these ideas into SMART’s tools for change,” Any type of addiction is welcome here.
NAMI Groups: The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a variety of groups both for people struggling with mental illness and their family and friends. As substance use disorder is in the DSM and there are also many people with dual diagnoses, this is a great fit for many people struggling.
Group Therapy: There are many different types of group therapy in multiple places and locations. Generally, searching for group therapy plus your city on any search engine can produce more results than you even know how to deal with. These are the only support groups in this list that often come with a cost, but sometimes your insurance will cover it. It can be worth looking into, particularly if you would like to work under a professional. As you can see, there are an abundance of options, and there are many more not mentioned here. Building support can be an important first step in recovery. By looking at different choices, you can find the one that works best for you and even your family.
