Addiction recovery is all about character development, loving yourself, caring about your mental and physical health and all those around you. But addiction recovery is not an easy process. There are several stages, all of which need effort and time.
The stages of addiction recovery can change depending on the person but generally almost all people go through a set range of behaviors over the period of recovery. These stages of addiction recovery are not just about overcoming the addiction but they involve deep character building once again and allowing you to become determined and strong willed to fight the addiction.
Let’s have a look at these stages of recovery and how to go through each one:
1. Acknowledgement of Addiction
The awareness of your addiction is the first step towards receiving addiction recovery, this is mostly the hardest part of the whole journey because it is highly unlikely that anyone would admit to a fault in their own behaviour. However, when this does happen they start seeing the negative consequences of their addiction and the need for help.
At this point they may still be engaged in drinking but the mere acknowledgement is sufficient to proceed forward. Many people get stuck in this phase for a long time due to a lack of understanding and long term consequences, to move forward they may need a little push from loved ones.
Acknowledgement does not mean that an addict would be interested in getting treatment – it is upto a rehab in South Carolina or close family members to help them bridge the gap between acknowledgement and treatment.
2. Contemplating Treatment
After the awareness of the problems within their behaviours many addicts soon realise the need for treatment. Some may have needed intervention to reach this stage; nonetheless, reaching this step is an achievement in itself. Now is the time to look out for possible recovery options and decide which treatment is suitable for you. Educating yourself about the benefits of recovery and a drug free life is essential at this point to motivate yourself to move towards a recovery treatment.
Family members should actively participate at this stage to make sure that the affected person is getting complete knowledge of all treatment options. Get instant support and make sure that if there are any recognisable triggers efforts must be made to eliminate them.
3. Initiating Treatment to Early Recovery
Termed as one of the most demanding times during recovery, the beginning of the treatment is a crucial time for all addicts. Any and every kind of support must be provided to keep them motivated. At this time, stress levels are high but with good preparation it is easy for anyone to overcome this overwhelming phase.
Active changes have to be made at this point and gradually substance has to be completely eliminated from the addict’s life. With therapy and other enabling treatment options that an addiction recovery center offers it is easy to make progress!
Remember that this stage is more than just quitting but about making lifestyle changes to ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle even after you are done with your addiction treatment. If such changes are made early on it is easier to stick to them.
4. Maintaining Abstinence and Possible Relapse
From starting the recovery treatment to abstinence it may have been a long journey, but this stage is the most rewarding phase of recovery. Any addiction program would now be more focused in following up therapy and activities. As an addict this means that you have to uphold your dedication and avoid any triggers that have been identified by now. The tools that have been taught during addiction treatment are used at this point to ensure ongoing recovery. A competent treatment team must be present to assist at this time since the addict starts feeling strong again and believes a short relapse will do no harm.
However, it must not be forgotten that addiction is a chronic disease and the risk of relapse will always be present. Despite the fact that an addict may have learned how to avoid his triggers but relapse is possible. Know that relapse is not a sign of weakness or failure but a mere indication of being human! Post recovery plans and support groups are essential at this stage.
4. Termination
At this last stage, the formal recovery program is concluded but the fight against substance is one that is actively being fought every day of the life of an addict. The commitment to sobriety is one that any addict makes to themself more than they make to their family members. As an addict, you may be ready to maintain healthy relationships, be financially stable and feel confident about yourself, after reaching this stage many people when asked say that they would never go back to substance abuse because they value their life so much.
The purpose of the addiction recovery program which was to make the addict love themselves again and value their life is achieved. The fear of relapse becomes lesser every day and with each passing day the control that drugs once exercise is forgotten for a better future.
Initially, recovery may seem a little intimidating but the beauty of this process is that you’ll realise that all that you worked so hard for was worth every single effort. It’s all about the view from the top!