Did you know that more than 85 percent of people in the United States of America have consumed alcohol at least once in their lives? There are a number of addiction recovery stages to learn about if you know someone that is in the midst of an addiction recovery journey. These stages of addiction recovery will help you understand and sympathize with what this individual is going through.
Addiction treatment is proven to work, but it’s much more effective if the person that is battling addiction has support from friends and family during this journey. The good news is that you’ve found the right place to learn about the different stages of recovery from addiction so you’ll be well-equipped to help.
Keep reading this article to learn about the five addiction recovery stages today!
Table of Contents
Awareness
The first stage of addiction recovery is awareness since the addict won’t consent to get addiction treatment until they’re aware of their problem. They won’t agree to do anything about it until they see how it’s impacting them and those around them. Friends and family can tell the addict that there is a problem all they want, but nothing will change unless the addict becomes aware of their addiction.
Most causes of awareness are crisis events. This is an impactful event that could get compared to hitting “rock bottom”. It forces the addict to face the facts of their addiction and realize how dangerous they have become because of it.
It could happen from a dangerous event like getting in a car crash while driving under the influence, or it could come as a result of a near overdose. It might even come from a significant other or a close friend leaving or removing themselves from your life.
These crisis events work as a wake-up call for the person struggling with addiction. It gets rid of any delusion in their mind that they don’t have any problems with substance abuse. These situations arent ideal, but they could help the individual make a big life choice that will lead to a better and happier life.
Consideration
The next part of the addiction recovery journey is the consideration stage. This stage involves the addict acknowledging their drug problems and reflecting more in-depth on their life. It’s also a good idea for them to do additional research about addiction and the major issues that it causes.
This step will make it easier for the addict to understand how they became addicted to drugs or alcohol and the things that they can do in order to escape the addiction. It’s also the period of time when the addict understands the damage they’ve caused to their relationships and their job.
Having a sober companion often helps with the consideration stage. It gives the recovering addict someone to talk to with whom they can relate. Take some time to learn about sober companions to help someone that you know is struggling with addiction recovery.
Exploring the Recovery Process
Now that the addict is aware of the addiction and the pain that it’s caused, the next step is showing them their options for getting rid of it and leaving it in the past. The addict can talk with friends and family members that have similar experiences with addiction or seek help online.
It’s at this point in the recovery journey that the addict starts making moves to let go of their addiction and move towards a drug-free future. They might even consider entering a rehab facility to get addiction treatment.
You can start setting goals toward living an addiction-free life when you start the recovery stages. An action plan will start to form that will make it easier to move on from your addictions. It’s much easier to build up your resolve when you have a plan for quitting drinking or doing drugs.
Early Recovery
The early recovery phase is often when addicts will enter a rehab center. It’s the start of putting the action plan into place for getting rid of addiction. They’ll need to take a look at the recovery program that works best for their needs.
The most effective option for addiction treatment is an inpatient rehab facility. You’ll reside at the facility during the time that you’re admitted and you’ll get the treatment that you need while there.
Getting treatment often starts with undergoing detoxification of your body. It means that you get all of the drugs and alcohol out of your system under the supervision of trained staff. Odds are that you’ll go through some rough withdrawal symptoms, but the medical professionals are there to help you.
You’ll have medicines and treatment methods that will help you overcome the pain and discomfort of cleansing your body. The worst symptoms of withdrawal should go away after three or four days at the clinic. Detox is the start of breaking your physical dependence on drugs and alcohol.
Maintenance
The last of the addiction recovery stages is the maintenance stage, and it’s where you put your addiction issues in the past and start living a healthy lifestyle. You’ll have the necessary tools and knowledge to overcome that addiction that you’re facing. The recovery process from addiction never ends and is something that you need to put energy toward for the rest of your life.
Make sure that you have a support system in place if you wish to succeed. Your support system should be there for you on your good days as well as your bad ones. It’s also not a bad idea to attend outpatient counseling with others that are recovered from addiction.
Now You Know the Addiction Recovery Stages
One of the best things that you can do in order to help a friend or family member that is battling addiction is to learn the addiction recovery stages. The recovery journey is not an easy one, and having people around that can understand what you’re going through makes overcoming addiction much easier. It’s also key to getting addiction treatment when you need it most.
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