How do blogs really connect people in recovery from addiction? We review types of blogs and how the form of the web log can help you heal from addiction here.
Two types of blogs for addiction recovery
Generally, we have found that there are 2 types of blogs for substance abuse, addiction treatment and recovery:
1. Medical information
2. Personal stories
1. The medical addiction blog
The first type of blogs used by recovering addict are blogs that offer information from more of a medical point of view, using reference sources such as clinical encyclopedias and university websites. These blogs have the goal to mainly inform about addiction as a wider field of interest. You will also find social aspects and more newsy information.
2. The personal addiction blog
Secondly, personal blogs in the niche aim to help you feel more associated with recovery, as if you are walking in someone else’s shoes. Blogs can be a place of expression for former addicts and people in recovery, who are ready to speak up about their addictions.
Similar to the concept of support groups, these blogs have the tendency to share often explicit and private details from the lives of people in recovery in order to assist other readers in needs. Such blogs follow the concept of bigger websites and do combine their content along with reliable reference sources with personal experiences and storytelling articles and videos.
If we consider addiction as a repetitive pattern of behavior that overtakes the body and mind of the addict, then people who have broken that pattern and are still in recovery, are willing to share details about it and help others. The truth is that you are really able to find both useful and trustworthy information which may be easily applicable to your situation. Emotions and thoughts are often shared through different forms of content that can be easily used by anyone.
The internet is useful in the self-healing process
There is an immense amount of data currently online outlining specific steps you can take if you want to get into recovery from addiction. Basically, blogs can offer you a full scope of the possibilities you have, giving a broad perspective over stories similar to yours. Others can supplement your understanding of addiction with medical findings. Some goals that blogger have for broadcasting information include:
1. Understanding addiction from the aspects of social, health systems, medical and personal experiences.
2. Reaching out to people in need, both addicts or already in recovery. 3. 3. Finding inventive and creative methods of self-expression.
4. Offering trustworthy information to readers, knowing that someone’s life may depend on you.
5. Updating readers on the latest trends and medical findings related to addiction treatment.
How else can blogs support addicts in recovery?
One of the main reasons for success of 12-step support groups is that over the years, they have managed to establish a worldwide group of followers. Why is that?
These communities function as mutual support aids share the same issues. Facilitation of trust building societies is possible also online. Blogs often offer the possibility for readers to ask questions, comment and give feedback on different topics. Questions are raised in order certain misunderstandings to be clarified and users are referred to the best resource holder on that specific topic, a treatment center, clinic, university website etc.
User’s comments on the other hand bring added value to the blogs, by providing the broader audience with more personal input and point of view. These comments make blogs look vivid and realistic with really well-defined approach to other readers. And last (but not least) is the feedback that is extremely valuable to blogs and forums in order to ultimately improve the experience for their readers. So next time you see a comment section, make sure you write something down and help the blog editor make internet way more useful for everybody.
About the author: Lee W. is a seeker so grateful that she found the rooms of A.A. in 2003. She is the editor of Addiction Blog, an online resource aimed at helping people find and get into addiction treatment. Lee is self-described as “funky-quirky” and does not mind being called a geek.
The post The Role of Blogs and Blogging in Addiction Recovery appeared first on Pacific View Recovery Center.
