“September is National Recovery Month; a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover. The 2020 Recovery Month observance will work to inspire people across the country to recognize the strength and resilience of individuals living in recovery as well as to support those with substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders to consider seeking treatment.”
-NAADAC (The Association for Addiction Professionals)
Recovery does not come easy to everyone. Yes, some people can quit “cold turkey,” but the majority of individuals need to enter treatment in a professional addiction setting such as a residential, partial hospitalization, or outpatient treatment facility. Upon entering treatment, many individuals struggle with recognizing the underlying triggers that helped spark the addiction. These may include past traumas, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, personality disorders, and other substance use disorders. The road to recovery is not a one-way street, and as hard as it may be to accept, setbacks and relapses can be part of the process for many. Although there is no “cure” for substance use disorders, it is possible that the correct treatment can help minimize symptoms and urges. There are also specific factors that can improve the likelihood of long-term recovery, which are included below:
Healthy support system
Interpersonal support is necessary for recovery. Whether it is support from family, friends, neighbors, community members in recovery, or your treatment team, having individuals who support you and who can help you is crucial to your recovery. Being in recovery can feel terrifying and isolating at times, and therefore it is so important to be surrounded by individuals who understand you; know what you are going through; and who are willing to stay by your side, cheering you on and keeping you focused when the going gets tough.
Willingness to change
Individuals, who have the desire and will to change, often will be more successful in treatment compared to those who are resistant to change. Many therapists believe that you must want to enter therapy to get the most out of your treatment approach. It does not matter if others want you to change. You must want to change for the better.
Balanced structure
Living in addiction is often uncertain, unbalanced, unstructured, and unpredictable. Upon entering treatment, you will see that your life is starting to form into a daily structure. Having routines, hobbies, daily tasks, and a set structure can help you stay on the road to recovery. Keeping busy, tending to daily activities, establishing a sense of organization, taking on responsibilities, and finding a healthy balance can bring you a sense of purpose and pride, essential for recovery.
Acceptance
Recovery goes hand-in-hand with acceptance. You are accepting the past, present, and future. It is essential to accept your past mistakes, accomplishments, and feelings and stay tuned with accepting what comes your way in the present and future.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Progress not perfection
Recovery is all about putting one foot in from of the other and working on one day at a time. As a result, the journey is about progress and not teaching perfection. Even though our society is built on “perfectionism,” it is important to adopt the concept of “progress” during treatment. Celebrate the small moments, the big victories, and be aware of every step forward you take, no matter how big or small. If we strive for perfection, we may not ever become successful in treatment, but our treatment journey will be successful if we strive for progress.
Maintenance
Maintaining sobriety while practicing self-care and juggling everyday tasks can be overwhelming. It is important to maintain a self-care routine while simultaneously maintaining some outpatient treatment. This could be seeing your therapist once a week or once a month or attending an online support group or keeping in contact with your recovery sponsor or recovery alumni group.
Casa Palmera can help
At Casa Palmera, our goal is whole-person healing; we treat the whole person and not just the disorder. Our dedicated treatment team goes underneath the surface of a presenting problem to determine the underlying triggers and address the root so that it doesn’t manifest itself in other ways. Our goal is not to treat the wound with a Band-Aid but instead develop a permanent solution to problems that are preventing you from living your happiest and healthiest life. Our clinical staff works with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that includes therapy approaches for your specific needs and tools that will improve your life on a holistic level. Learn more about Casa Palmera here and see how Casa Palmera’s programs can help you transform your mind, body, and soul.
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