LIFESTYLE NEWS - It can be both challenging and overwhelming to overcome an addiction. The journey to recovery is a process that requires many steps, the first few usually being the hardest.
Considering the fact that the decision to live substance-free is accompanied by many challenges, heart-warming achievements and a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs that far exceed what you might have bargained for, it is essential to understand prior to your journey what the steps of recovery might look like.
As Just Believe Recovery Centre says, “knowing this is similar to using a roadmap in a car. You will still encounter curves, bumps and obstacles, but it certainly makes it much easier to find your way and avoid getting lost”.
Each step on the journey to recovery is described below and offers an overview on how this process unfolds, what can be expected, and what the obtainable results are.
Step 1: Admit there is a problem
Despite there being millions of people struggling with addiction, many individuals try to normalise and justify substance abuse by making excuses. Acknowledging and admitting that you have a problem and are struggling is the first step toward reclaiming your health and happiness. Although this is the most challenging aspect of recovery, it is the first step towards making a new, positive lifestyle change.
Step 2: Devoting to an attitude of change
After the realisation that addiction has an all-encompassing harmful impact on one’s life, the next step is to commit to changing the necessary habits and your overall lifestyle in order to recover. Though there may be a stable support group that encourages a loved one to lean toward recovery, the individual must initiate this second step on his/her personal journey. In the wise words of Dr Dennis Daley: “Recovery from addiction requires hard work, a proper attitude and learning skills to stay sober, not drinking alcohol or using other drugs. Successful drug recovery or alcohol recovery involves changing attitudes, acquiring knowledge and developing skills to meet the many challenges of sobriety”.
Step 3: Seeking professional help
The next step is to openly embrace the fact that seeking help from professional sources and community programmes will aid better in your recovery than attempting to recover on your own. It is imperative to bear in mind that withdrawal symptoms can be intense, and in some instances, life-threatening. Having a professional monitor your health can ensure comfort and safety through the duration of the process. Obtaining the objective, which is recovery, often requires more than just abstaining from substance abuse. It is also important to identify the root of the individual’s addiction and address any underlying issues through therapy or trauma counselling. “At the bottom of everyone’s dependency there is always pain. Discovering the pain and healing it is an essential step in ending dependency,” said Chris Prentiss.
Step 4: Locate external support
Professionals will help the individual to identify external resources that can be used on a continual basis. These include doctors, therapists, counsellors and support groups. This form of aftercare is essential in helping individuals to prevent relapse and overcome issues such as trauma and grief.
Step 5: Staying committed and continually making changes in all aspects of life
Once the individual has undergone treatment, they have to enact the behaviours and lessons learnt during rehab in order to achieve positive changes. It is also an essential aspect of recovery to note how the addiction has affected other areas of the person’s life, such as financial troubles and relationships, in order to work on repairing what has been damaged.
Step 6: Celebrating recovery milestones
The individual’s strength, resilience and willingness to change can now be celebrated and honoured. The journey to recovery is long and tiring, but ultimately a gratifying and rewarding experience, with every effort and sacrifice worth celebrating.
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