It Takes a Village: Finding the Right Support System in Addiction Recovery
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Change Begins with You
Beyond the benefits of support through recovery, achieving the ultimate goal of enduring sobriety and renewed purpose is in your hands. While relapse may seem to be the enemy of recovery, the actuality is that lack of conviction and dedication will cause failure long before a person in recovery ever relapses.
Recovery is much more than simply abstaining from your substance of choice. To end one’s dependence on illicit substances, one must undergo a transformation on all levels, which often begins under the guidance of therapists and counselors in a rehabilitation facility. With their direction and bolstering, one can begin to not only address and alleviate one’s self of the emotional and psychological causes of substance abuse, but also rebuild the foundation for a happy, healthy life.
One of the primary causes of unsuccessful attempts at sober living is continuing to lead the same lifestyle in sobriety as one did while actively using drugs or abusing alcohol. By remaining in the same social circles and engaging in the same activities, one risks being derailed from a sober path by unexpected triggers or circumstances. It is not uncommon in early recovery for people to test their new boundaries. Overconfidence in their newfound coping skills and willpower mislead them to believe they can withstand exposure to potential triggers. During the vulnerability of early recovery, testing one’s bounds is an unwise decision; it is much better to choose avoidance than to test one’s strength and endurance. The lesson of wisdom over endurance is common among addiction recovery specialists, as it emphasizes the importance of keeping one’s sobriety at the forefront of the decision making process. Strength of will is not enough to sustain sobriety. This is why abstinence-based (“cold turkey”) recovery methods are unsuccessful for many suffering from substance abuse disorders. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
“Successful treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases.”
The most common cause of relapse in early recovery are unaddressed and unresolved emotional traumas or psychological issues. This could be the result of not being forthright with one’s therapists or counselors for any number of reasons or refraining from seeking the services of addiction recovery specialists all together. No matter if the omission is driven by pride, shame, or mistrust, not fully addressing the origin of one’s substance abuse disorder all but guarantees the conditions which promote relapse. One may last only a matter of hours or years in remission for the disease of addiction, but if at any moment the unaddressed source is triggered, one is all but powerless to stop the downward spiral back into the depths of substance abuse.
Successful recovery from a substance abuse disorder relies on understanding your triggers and using the appropriate coping tools to respond in effective, positive ways. When the mind is addled by addiction, all healthy means of handling the stresses of life are replaced by urges to use, thus evading the problem at hand without a satisfactory conclusion. Avoidance of the issue is not a solution, thus leading the initial predicament to fester and worsen.
Being receptive to the necessary life changes rehabilitation and lasting sobriety requires is vital to the process of learning to live a sober, happy, and healthy life. Holding on to the familiar prevents one from reaching this ultimate goal. Fearing the change associated with addiction recovery will serve only to stunt your progress. Though it may seem terrifying, the end product is a person you can be proud to say you’ve become, despite all that you’ve been through and experienced.
Chapter One: Redefining
Your Social Circle