Recovery journey is a common goal for people with substance use disorders.
But how does recovery work?
What problems do people face when they stop using drugs and alcohol?
Truth is, recovery is a process that includes plenty of bumps along the way. Setbacks and relapses are normal parts of the recovery journey.
In this article, we’ll show you what the truth about the real path to addiction recovery looks like. So let’s get right into it.
What Will You find Out?
- The Challenging Reality Of The Recovery Journey
- What Relapse Really Is
- Common Barriers To Recovery
- The Best Practices That Really Work
- Elements Of Your Personal Recovery Toolkit
The Challenging Reality of The Recovery Journey
Addiction recovery is not what you think it is.
Watching those Hollywood stories of 30-day rehabs that work miracles for all addictions from alcohol to heroin and crack, can paint a distorted picture.
But real addiction recovery is a messier process that takes months and sometimes years and involves rebuilding a life.
Put simply, it takes time and work.
Here’s why.
Substance use was a way for you to cope with challenges in your life.
You used it to deal with stress, pain, anxiety, bad moods, boredom, loneliness, life changes and other uncomfortable emotions. If you’ve been using it for many years, this is how your brain learns to cope.
Your brain becomes wired to rely on those substances and changing that takes time and hard work.
People who need a comprehensive and structured approach to recovery can find the help of a Virginia alcohol rehab center with programs that help address these challenges through evidence-based treatment modalities that treat addiction recovery as a long-term journey.
The sobering truth is the statistics:
40% to 60% of people in recovery experience relapse.
And here is what those numbers do not tell you—relapse is not failure. Relapse simply means you need to make adjustments.
What Relapse Really Is?
Let’s talk about relapse.
Relapse is not a moral failure or a sign that you are a weak person. It does not mean treatment is a waste of time or that you are not worthy of recovery.
The recovery relapse rates for addiction are similar to relapse rates for other chronic illnesses.
Here is what really happens with relapse:
Most people think that relapse is the point at which someone takes a drink or uses a drug. Wrong.
Relapse is a process that begins long before substance use.
Relapse typically has three stages:
Stage 1: Emotional relapse. During this time people stop practicing good self-care. Sleep is disrupted. People skip meetings with support groups and therapy appointments.
Stage 2: Mental relapse. At this point in the relapse process people start romanticizing their former drug or alcohol use. People often remember only the good times they had and forget the negative consequences.
Stage 3: Physical relapse. Actual substance use.
Understanding the relapse process is enlightening. When you can spot the early warning signs you can step in before stage 3 sets in.
Common Barriers to Recovery
Addiction recovery has some predictable foes. The best defense is understanding the enemy.
Lack of a Good Support System
Surprisingly many people don’t realize how much their environment impacts their success in recovery.
If you are still hanging out with people who use substances, recovery can be a lot more difficult.
Your old friends might not understand or support your recovery journey. Family members might enable or collude with your destructive behaviors.
In some cases, this isolation and loneliness become the biggest relapse trigger for people in recovery.
Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions
Among the 48.7 million people who have substance use disorders, 55.8% also have a mental illness.
Depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health conditions are often the drivers of addiction.
If these conditions are not addressed along with the substance use disorder, they create a revolving door situation.
People may get clean but the underlying pain that drove them to use substances in the first place is still present.
Financial and Practical Pressures
Addiction recovery costs money and many people who struggle with addiction have money problems.
Programs, therapy, and medications all cost money.
More than 52% of people do not seek treatment because of the high costs associated with recovery. Financial stress is a significant relapse trigger.
Lack of Coping Skills
Drugs and alcohol become the primary coping skills people use to manage their lives.
They use substances to manage stress, pain, boredom, bad moods, life changes, and other unpleasant emotions.
When people go through recovery and detox, they no longer have their old coping skills.
Learning healthy ways to cope takes time and practice. During this period when people are vulnerable, they can be tempted to return to their old ways.
Proven Strategies that Work
Successful addiction recovery is never based on a single approach.
It is always important to have multiple tools in your toolbox to draw from when you encounter different challenges.
Comprehensive Treatment Approaches
Successful recovery programs include a combination of modalities that address the many different aspects of addiction:
- Medical detoxification as needed
- Individual therapy sessions
- Group therapy sessions
- Medication-assisted treatment for specific addictions
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions
- Life skills training and vocational support
Building a Strong Support Network
Recovery happens in the community:
- Family therapy to heal relationships
- Peer support groups (AA, NA, SMART Recovery, etc.)
- Sober living groups and communities
- Recovery coaches and sponsors
- Professional counseling relationships
Learning Practical Life Skills
People who are in recovery often have to relearn life management skills.
- Financial management and budgeting
- Healthy relationship communication skills
- Stress management techniques
- Problem solving
- Time management and routines
Planning for Relapse Prevention
Good relapse prevention involves:
- Identifying triggers and high-risk situations
- Creating coping strategies for each trigger
- Developing action plans for various situations
- Regular check-ins with the support team
- Ongoing therapy/counseling
Building Your Personal Recovery Toolkit
The secret to long-term success in recovery is having several different tools in your toolbox that you can use when different problems arise.
Self-care Basics
Poor self-care is the basis of emotional relapse.
Basic self-care practices include:
- Healthy sleep hygiene
- Regular physical activity/exercise
- Nutrition and balanced eating habits
- Stress reduction practices (meditation/yoga, etc.)
- Regular medical and mental health check-ups
Crisis Management Plans
Every person in recovery needs a crisis plan for high-risk times.
- List of emergency contacts who are supportive of your recovery
- Activities to do when cravings hit
- Safe places you can go to when feeling vulnerable
- Lists of reasons for staying sober and clean
- Professional resources and emergency hotlines
Long-term Growth and Development
Sustainable recovery requires ongoing growth and development.
- Meaningful goals to work towards
- New hobbies and interests
- A sense of purpose and contribution
- Education and career development
- Spiritual or philosophical growth
Wrapping It Up
Addiction recovery is a challenging journey that includes setbacks, relapses, and a number of obstacles that can get in the way.
The most important thing to keep in mind:
Recovery is a process, not an event. Setbacks are not failures; they are information.
Key strategies that make the difference:
- Comprehensive treatment that addresses all the different aspects of addiction.
- A strong support network that provides ongoing support and encouragement.
- Practical skills development to successfully navigate life’s challenges.
- Personalized relapse prevention plans
- Self-care and crisis management strategies
Each person’s journey is different, but the essential components are the same.
Remember that asking for help is the first step, and it’s a sign of strength not weakness.
With the right kind of help and an evidence-based treatment program, long-term recovery is not just possible, it’s likely.
The journey is not easy, but millions have walked it, and you can too.
