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Vanderbilt Recovery Support
Advice on dealing with the stress of college life
The college environment can be one of the most powerful factors for relapsing. Be realistic about the influences that may set you up for relapse and make a plan on how you will deal with each factor. Have a backup plan as well! Make sure you keep your sponsor’s phone number/email address/texting handy. Develop a plan with your therapist before you leave home. Get connected with the Vanderbilt Recovery Support program before you get on campus.
Anecdotal information from recovering/relapsing students have revealed that most recovering students feel awkward about telling other students about their recovery/treatment, and would sooner like to pretend that they can drink just like ‘everyone else.’ They report seeing other students doing the same behaviors that they, themselves, use to do when their addiction was active. The impression leaves the recovering (yet still a dry drunk) student to think that they are like everyone else and can drink.
Many recovering students ‘forget’ to go to meetings or therapy sessions, thus setting themselves up for relapse. To avoid this set up, make an appointment with a therapist here, on campus or in the community, before you actually return to campus. Check out the 12 step meeting schedule here in Nashville, and make definite plans to go to a meeting within the first 24-36 hours on campus.
How are you going to socialize without drinking? No one can really tell if you are ready to go back into the drinking social scene . . . it’s a risk, no matter how long your sobriety. For the first semester (at least), plan out your recreation and social scene by researching what alcohol-free events there are on campus. Check out the University Calendar and the Outdoor Recreation Program. Make sure you have plans for the weekend by Thursday afternoon, or else Friday night will come and your need to have some fun will be strong and the partying temptations even stronger.
Stay in contact with your support system. Not sure if you have an adequate support system? Try this worksheet to explore the different types of support people you will need to stay sober/clean.
Self Help Information: 12 Step Programs
Schedule of local meetings
Friendship House, 202 23rd North Avenue (327-3909) has many meetings during the week, but they recommend the Friday, 6:30pm Beginners Meeting and the Saturday, 6:30 and 10:00 pm meeting for young adults. For recreational needs, contact the Tennessee Conference of Young Peoples in AA, which post their events on the bulletin boards of the Friendship House (which is a no smoking facility).
Contact with other recovering students through Vanderbilt Recovery Support (VRS), contact recovering@vanderbilt.edu or call (615) 343-8772.