A very important component of the overall recovery process is establishing a support network for your self. This network may consist of family members, friends, online buddies or any other network or person from whom you can get support.

An important component of the healing process is to talk about your experience and to share your experience with others. Talking about your experience can bring comfort to you as well as be informative to the person with whom you are speaking; it helps others gain an insight as to what you went through and perhaps a better understanding of your experience and feelings. It is most helpful to you and to others if you can be comprehensive with your descriptions including comments on how you felt during your experience as well as share how you are feeling now. With this information, your network of people and/or this individual can support you and give you encouragement as you encounter frustrations during the recovery process.

Be as open and honest with your network and/or this individual so that they can get a full understanding as to how you are feeling û they can't help you if you aren't open and honest. Try not to keep feelings stored up inside; more than likely, you will be experiencing many new feelings and emotions. Research has shown that telling your story over and over to as many people as possible is an important part of the healing process and can protect against long term psychological distress.

Remember, it is entirely normal to have a wide range of feelings, anywhere from sadness and frustration to a deep since of grief and loss during the recovery phase. Feeling mildly "blue" can be expected; however, if your feelings become increasingly severe it is important to consult a specialist as this could be a sign of a more serious condition.

Also, it is helpful to include someone of your support team in all aspects of the recovery process. If possible, invite someone to attend follow-up doctor appointments and therapy sessions with you, another set of ears are always helpful and that extra encouragement during rehab could make a huge difference for you.

In conclusion, it is strongly recommended that you have someone and/or a network of people you can turn to for support... even as simple as an extra set of ears to listen to you as you share your experiences. On the other hand, these people in your support network may also be able to help you with everyday tasks that you may be struggling with such as grocery shopping, house cleaning, and laundry, or even transportation to and from your therapy and/or doctor appointments. It's always easier and more fun to do these activities with a friend!