The 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery
The 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery
Change doesn’t always happen overnight. That can be especially true of people dealing with substance use disorders. You may hear stories of people abruptly deciding to stop drinki…
Published February 22, 2021 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~672 words
Change doesn’t always happen overnight. That can be especially true of people dealing with substance use disorders. You may hear stories of people abruptly deciding to stop drinking and misusing drugs, then going on to lead a happy and productive life. While those instances should be celebrated, the reality is that most people need help when it comes to breaking free of addiction. Addiction recovery tends to happen in stages. Sometimes you may need to go back and repeat one as you work to achieve a life free of substance use. Pines Recovery Life can provide the necessary support to help individuals recover and heal from the disease of addiction
Addiction Recovery Means Acknowledging Your Illness
Sometimes this can be the most challenging stage for people to get past. You may tell yourself that you only have a drink or two after work occasionally when you are drinking to excess every day. People who can maintain a façade by performing well at school or work may take the longest to admit they have an addiction issue.
Friends and loved ones may have to step in and put a spotlight on behaviors you may be ignoring or dismissing as inconsequential. You have to get to a place where you can acknowledge your illness’s reality and seriousness before you can move on to the next phase of addiction recovery.
Deciding to Seek Treatment
Once you admit that you have a problem, you will need to decide how you want to deal with it. The first thing you might want to do during this addiction recovery stage is to seek an addiction specialist’s advice.
Allow them to evaluate you and give you a firm diagnosis. The addiction specialist can offer recommendations on what kind of treatment plan might benefit you most. Your doctor may feel you are in a state where you need to admit yourself to a detox center. After that, you may be a candidate for options like a residential stay or intensive outpatient treatment.
Giving Up Substance Use
Admitting yourself to a detox facility provides you with access to 24/7 care as you go through withdrawal. Medication-assisted treatment can help alleviate your withdrawal symptoms while reducing or even eliminating cravings for drugs or alcohol during the addiction recovery process.
Regardless of the treatment plan you choose, all will involve a commitment to abstain from substance use. Attending regular therapy sessions can help you learn skills that help you manage your reactions to triggers that may crop up when you are outside.
Remaining Sober After Addiction Recovery
You can aid your efforts at sobriety by finding support groups near you. That can be the start of building a network of support to turn to when you feel you are in danger of relapsing. Reach out to friends and family to assist you in rebuilding a life free of addiction. While the addiction recovery process is not easy, it can pay off with improvements to your physical and mental health.
Achieving Advanced Recovery
People typically qualify as being in an advanced stage of addiction recovery once they have been sober for five years or more. At this point, you’ve become experienced at incorporating the tool learned in therapy into your daily life when it comes to resisting temptation. You can help yourself achieve and remain in the advanced stage of recovery by:
- Continuing to set long-term goals for yourself
- Sticking with a consistent daily routine
- Forming relationships with other sober people
- Participating in fulfilling activities that don’t require substance use
- Thinking about the needs of others
Get Help For Your Addiction
If you find yourself struggling to get through the early phases of addiction recovery or need help restarting your path, Pines Recovery Life Detox may be able to help. Our programs are meant to aid individuals having trouble staying sober.
Learn more about the different programs offered at Pines Recovery Life Detox by calling 800.263.3869, or contact us online.
