Recovery from addiction can be difficult. One mistake that people make is to think that recovery from addiction is a one time event which happens when the addicted person stops the use of drugs or alcohol. This is not the case and recovery is an ongoing process rather than an event that begins when a person decides to stop the use of the substance of choice. Recovery is about change as well as growth.
Stages of recovery
The stages of recovery begin with the addicted person accepting that they have a problem and they need help overcoming the addiction. The addict must also be willing to change. The person should investigate the recovery options before taking action. The other stages of recovery are:
Initiating treatment
Here the addicted person seeks help from a substance abuse treatment program. Whether the addict does so voluntary or is forced by loved one/circumstances into the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center does not matter. The recovery process begins with initiating treatment. In the early days of treatment, the addicted person may experience ambivalent feelings on giving up alcohol or drugs. It is normal for you to feel as if substance abuse is not as bad as it seems. But you must be aware that denial and ambivalence are the biggest hurdle at this stage of recovery.
Early abstinence
After making a commitment to stop substance abuse, you get into a drug and alcohol treatment center. This stage is known as “early abstinence”. It can be a difficult stage as you have to deal with withdrawal symptoms, psychological dependence, physical cravings and many other triggers that can cause relapse. Here the addiction therapist will train you on coping skills that you need to live a sober lifestyle.
Maintaining abstinence
After you have stayed in a residential drug rehab for a period of 90 days, you move to the third stage that is known as “maintaining abstinence”. Here you get into continuing/follow-up counseling but on an outpatient basis. This stage focuses on preventing relapse. You are taught the warning signs as well as the steps that can cause a relapse. You learn how to put into practice the skills to cope with managing stress, anger, healthy relationship, money and employment issues.
Advanced recovery
This stage starts after around 5 years of sobriety. In this final stage, you put all the skills and tools that you learn during your drug treatment program into practice to live a lifestyle that is totally sober. To learn more on stages of recovery from addiction, you can contact a drug rehab program in West Palm Beach known as Good Future Rehab at 561 859 0930 or through https://goodfuturerehabcenter.com/
