‘Making the Reach’ is what I call reaching out for connection. Making the Reach is an essential component of addiction recovery and intimacy building skills. The act of Making the Reach trains our brain to attempt healthy connection with others. When we try and connect with others in healthy ways, this shifts us away from isolation, depression, fear, and addictive behaviors. Making the Reach also puts us in control of the connection we create in our lives, rather than being codependent and waiting for others to reach for us and meet our needs. There is POWER in learning to get comfortable Making the Reach.

Something that is so great about Making the Reach is that even if the person we are reaching out to does not meet us, we still benefit; meaning we benefit from reaching out to others regardless of the outcome. Of course, it feels better to receive connection from our reach, but even when that does not happen, the shift that happens in our brain and nervous system is still occurring. That’s AMAZING!!!

The more often we Make the Reach, the more healthy we become, and the more our brain and nervous system becomes calm and confident in relationships with others. We learn not to live or die by the outcome of our Reach, but rather we become safe and content in ourselves.

In addiction recovery, making phone calls and connecting with others is the thing we are taught to do when we want to act out or use. Why is this? CONNECTION is the CURE for addiction. It is a well-known fact, that people who have healthy relationships become addicts less of the time. In addiction recovery, Making the Reach is the behavior we must do……make the phone call, schedule the meeting with a sponsor, etc., rather than waiting to receive a phone call or wait for your sponsor to schedule a meeting. Making the Reach is active, not passive, and the act of Making the Reach creates brain change away from addiction.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sophia, please email her at sophia@queencityhealthysex.com or text her at 919-698-7061.

You can also watch her videos at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL2wZGiTUh8