In the addiction treatment world, the word “recovery” comes up frequently. It’s often referred to as a goal to reach, and many people may refer to themselves as “in recovery.” But what does that actually mean, and how does one achieve it? In this blog, we’ll discuss what recovery means in addiction and how to begin your recovery journey.
What is Recovery?
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, recovery refers to a process of making positive changes to improve health and wellness and working toward reaching your full potential. While abstaining from drug or alcohol use is a key part of recovery for many, there are other important aspects of recovery, and these can look different for everyone. Examples of other parts of recovery include:
- Handling difficult situations and stressors without resorting to substance use
- Living a life that contributes to society
- Having a strong sense of purpose in life
A key part of recovery is that it is voluntarily maintained–an individual makes the effort to sustain their recovery over time, requiring dedication and commitment. It’s a conscious choice to maintain one’s recovery despite setbacks, and for this reason, maintaining recovery is often a high priority for many individuals who have struggled with substance abuse in their lives.
How Does One Start Recovery?
Recovery begins with the decision to make a change in your life. This is the first step toward sustained recovery, and it’s a crucial moment.
After making this decision, many individuals then work on stopping their use of substances. This step is often called detoxification, as it involves ridding the body of any traces of the substance. This step can be difficult for many people, as the detoxification process often leads to withdrawal symptoms that can be uncomfortable. While some withdrawal symptoms can be mild, depending on the substance you are detoxing from, these symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening. Because of this, it is recommended to undergo detox under the supervision of medical professionals who can help you should complications arise during withdrawal.
Once you’ve successfully detoxed, the next part of your recovery journey begins. This is where individuals build the skills needed to sustain their sobriety and make positive changes in their lives. Individuals can learn how to handle triggers, manage cravings, and confront challenges without turning to substance use. They can develop sober hobbies and make changes to their relationships and other aspects of their lives to support their sobriety.
Individuals may choose to navigate this phase themselves, with the help of a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or through an addiction treatment program. These different options provide different levels of support throughout this journey, and what may be effective for one person may not be effective for all.
After this phase, individuals enter the maintenance stage of recovery, where they sustain the lifestyle changes made and continue efforts to prevent relapse.
If you’re looking for support to start your recovery journey, there are many reputable treatment programs across the country that can help. These programs can help you develop crucial recovery skills, build a sober support network, and discover your sense of purpose. No matter where you are in your recovery, support is available.
Find Lasting Recovery with Premiere Addiction Recovery
At Premiere Addiction Recovery, our compassionate staff is dedicated to helping you find lasting recovery. We offer specialized addiction treatment programs, including:
- Detox: Our medical detox services help individuals progress through the detoxification stage of recovery. Our trained professionals can supervise your detox process to ensure your health and safety.
- Residential treatment: We offer an inpatient program with six hours of therapy each day. Our program will help you build crucial recovery skills and develop personalized coping strategies for managing cravings and triggers.
- Veterans Addiction Treatment: We provide a specialized treatment pathway to veterans dealing with substance abuse. This pathway provides support from a multidisciplinary team of specialists well-versed in the needs of veterans.
Our personalized programs help clients build a strong foundation for sustainable sobriety. If you would like to learn more about our programs, reach out to our team. Start your journey to recovery and call us today.
