While the recovery process is a major challenge, all it takes is a yearning for change and the confidence that you can overcome the disease. Combining those internal feelings with a safe environment, a solid support system, and an effective treatment plan lays the foundation for a healthy, meaningful life.
A lot of people think of sobriety and recovery as one in the same, but they are quite different. Sobriety is achieved by many addicts. However, recovery is a lot more challenging than getting sober. Recovery means making massive changes to your behavior, your perspective on life, and even the environment in which you live in some scenarios.
One of the biggest mistakes an addict can make is thinking that the recovery journey ends after treatment. The reality is that the real work begins once addiction treatment ends. Transitioning back to life outside of rehab is tough. The potential for relapse is always there and it is important to lean on aftercare resources to remain focused on sobriety and continued recovery.
Continued recovery means leaning on resources like 12-step programs, sober living homes, and support groups. These recovery resources play a monumental role in an addict’s life – during addiction treatment and for the rest of their lives thereafter. Recovery from addiction looks different for everyone, but there are a number of aspects that hold true for each addict.
Four Dimensions of Recovery
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights four main dimensions of recovery. These four elements are pivotal for an addict to understand as they move through the recovery process. The four dimensions of recovery are as follows:
Health in Addiction Recovery
First and foremost, addiction recovery must focus on managing or overcoming the addict’s disease(s) as well as the symptoms associated with it. Keeping emotional and physical well-being at the forefront means making healthy choices each day.
Home in Addiction Recovery
Maintaining a supportive, stable, and safe living environment is critical to addiction recovery.
Purpose in Addiction Recovery
Living life with purpose means being a contributing member of your community, an important aspect of addiction recovery.
Community in Addiction Recovery
Establishing a network founded in support, love, and friendship is critical to building relationships that will facilitate a life of sobriety.
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Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Process
When a person is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction it can feel extremely lonely and helpless. Both the addict and their loved ones often struggle to figure out where to start along the recovery journey. In many cases, the addict (and sometimes their loved ones) are in denial about the disease or embarrassed to admit that they are addicted. Understanding the general steps to recovery is an important part of the process.
Hope is one of the most essential components of the recovery process. So many addicts have failed to recovery in the past and start to believe that recovery may not be possible for them. However, maintaining hope lays the foundation for a healthy, sober life. The following of the general steps to recovery:
1. Identifying Addiction
The first step in anyone’s addiction recovery journey is identifying that a problem exists and then acknowledging that change must be made to overcome the addiction. This step is absolutely critical to starting the recovery journey on the right foot.
2. Addiction Education
Understanding that addiction is a disease, not a choice, is extremely important. When an addict learns this fact they are able to accept that treating the disease is the only way through it. Learning the ins and outs of drug and alcohol addiction is key to recovery.
3. Recovery Preparation
From reaching out to family and friends for support to researching the best addiction treatment options for you, there are a number of important steps to take before entering a substance abuse facility. Developing a plan to follow after treatment is complete is important as well.
4. Addiction Treatment
When entering inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab, an addict must seek addiction treatment that is right for them. Figuring out the best treatment plan is imperative to approaching recovery with the greatest odds for success.
A Lifelong Recovery Process
Understanding that addiction recovery is a lifelong process is extremely important. From taking measures to avoid relapse to surrounding yourself with the right crowd, addicts who commit to the lifelong effort will be in the best position to succeed in living a healthy, sober life. Support groups and meetings will prove to be invaluable throughout addiction recovery. Every addict needs a strong support system to help them through times of weakness and encourage them in times of strength.
While many addicts find great success in attending meetings, it is important to keep in mind that everyone is different. The best path to addiction recovery is finding one that is right for you and your individual needs.
At Cardinal Recovery, we make sure that we guide our patients before, during, and after treatment. The transition from an addiction rehab center to recovery at home or in a sober living home can be challenging. You are not alone. We are here for you and we are here to help.