Though no two people’s recovery experience is the exact same, there are generally five stages of recovery beginning with the acknowledgement of addiction and ending in an active recovery and aftercare maintenance.
Awareness and Acknowledgment
The first essential step towards recovery is the awareness and acknowledgment of addiction. Without the acknowledgement that there is a problem, recovery is impossible. This may begin with conversations with concerned friends and family, or it may not happen until the addiction leads to health, financial, or legal issues.
Treatment Consideration
The second step is the transition from awareness to action. Though not actively engaged in a treatment program yet, they are beginning to see how their destructive behaviors have negatively affected friends and family. Much of the consideration step involves gaining information and insight into the recovery process before jumping into treatment.
Addiction Treatment
This stage is the first, real critical action step towards experiencing life without an addiction. By taking small steps and exploring the concepts of moderation and abstinence, they are able to push past denial and accept the possibility of a new life.
Early Recovery
The fourth stage of recovery involves gaining necessary tools to live an addiction-free life. During this stage, individuals develop healthy habits, coping skills, and begin to rebuild their lives and damaged relationships. Though this part of recovery is not easy and requires a great deal of vulnerability and honesty, this step sets them on a trajectory of life-long sustainable recovery.
Developing a Recovery Routine
Because the individual’s life has dramatically changed, establishing a routine is essential even early in recovery. When treatment ends and life goes back to “normal”, this is not the normal they once knew. A new normal must be established by creating routines that promote and utilize the tools and skills learned in rehab. This routine will help ease anxiety, promote stability, develop self-confidence and self-esteem, and allow for more responsibility in the future. Sober Living can be a great source for people needing to transition at this phase.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and addiction, call us today for a free, confidential assessment. Our trained treatment specialists will help you find the best path to recovery suited for your needs.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
