Recovery is perhaps best thought of as a journey rather than a destination. If you receive ongoing support throughout your recovery, that can help you have a more successful recovery.
Perception of Recovery
The concept of a support network isn’t always clear to people on the outside, or who are new to recovery. For many years, the idea was perpetuated that if you had a drug or alcohol problem, the thing to do was to go to rehab and “get fixed”. Then, you could return home after 28 days and resume life as usual – minus the drugs or alcohol. The reality of successful recovery is much different, as any person who enjoys it can tell you.
Take Things One Day at a Time
Sometimes, the idea of a lifestyle change can be daunting to the person who is just beginning their recovery. They cannot fathom going a few days without their drug of choice. Imagining a lifetime seems impossible. This is why we rehab center professionals encourage you to keep it simple and take your recovery one day at a time.
Yes, recovery is a process that we continue for a lifetime. It is not something we simply achieve like a diploma or degree. However, this does not need to be overwhelming. Quite the opposite. It’s actually good news. It means that you get to spend the rest of your life working on yourself. You get to continuously improve as a person which is something far too many people fail to do – whether they struggle with addiction or not.
Ongoing Support Allows for More Personal Growth
Personal growth should be your mission in recovery. It is very important and it will touch every aspect of your life. This is why it is so important to make certain you have ongoing support in your recovery. Like any complex process, recovery inevitably has its ups and downs. The key is to have more ups and as few downs as possible. One of the best ways to ensure this is to rely on people and support structure to reinforce your recovery.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
In the beginning, especially, it is very helpful to engage in outpatient treatment on a regular basis. Studies have shown that people who remain engaged in outpatient treatment and 12-step fellowships for a least one year from their sobriety date are more than three times as likely to stay in recovery for longer than those who do not.
It has been said that there is no such thing as ‘too much help’ for a problem, there is only ‘not enough’. That is as true of recovering from addiction as anything else.
High-quality drug and alcohol treatment programs will always provide patients with a treatment plan, as well as a plan to follow post-discharge. It is important that every recovering person follow these recommendations to the best of their ability.
Recovery is a sound investment that pays miraculous dividends as long as you stick with it. So, reach out for all the help you can get. If you are lucky enough to attend an outpatient program, get as much out of it as you can. Some other things you can do include:
- Joining a traditional 12-step fellowship or secular alternatives like SMART Recovery or Life Ring
- Developing sober supports
- Having friends and allies in recovery who you can rely on for support and who understand the process
One of the most beautiful things about recovery is that there is strength in numbers. The best way to strengthen your recovery is by helping others and allowing others to help you. The concept of fellowship is at the very core of recovery.
Are you in recovery from an addiction or plan to be? If so, make sure you have ongoing support.
At Harmony Healing Center, we provide a full range of support services from detox to partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment. Give us a call or reach out for a chat and we will be happy to help you chart a course for successful recovery.