| Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Tips and Advice |
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| Health and Fitness - Self Help |
| Written by Carl-Peter |
| Wednesday, 17 September 2008 13:06 |
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Look - the first thing that you need to understand, is that recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism, is something totally separate from treating these addictions.
Look - the first thing that you need to understand, is that recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism, is something totally separate from treating these addictions. Treating addiction is typically the three-four-five-or six week period you spend at a rehab/treatment center - detoxing, receiving ongoing care and treatment using various methods like counselling, and helping you deal with the issues that led you to a life of addiction. Recovery then - is what follows going to rehab and receiving treatment. It's pretty much then about what you do for the rest of your life to maintain your sobriety by staying off the drugs or alcohol. I think many that go into treatment don't get this at first and that's why relapse rates can be high - because they see treatment as the end of the road for them, when in fact it's really only the beginning. Recovery from alcoholism and addiction then, is in essence, about the consistent habits and new way of life you create for yourself - so that you stay on the road of recovery road and don't end up relapsing. It's the spiritual program you follow and/or NA/AA meetings you regularly attend, dealing with your 'baggage' so that it doesn't become an excuse again to drink or use drugs, making the right kind of friends and staying away at all costs from old drinking and using buddies, having a mentor you can call when you're having a bad day ... So recovery then is about taking action and doing the 'work' you need to do on a regular basis, i.e. creating new uplifting habits for yourself, that will your 'addict self' as someone who holds no more power of you because your real 'Strong, Warrior Self' has taken over. Treatment should therefore be seen as the first step on the road to recovery - and not the finishing line itself. Yes there are people that overcome their addictions without going to rehab - but they also do it by making major changes to their lives and building new habits that take continuous work and effort. So when trying to understand alcohol addiction recovery and drug addiction recovery - remember its something you do and work at for the rest of your life. It can be hard at the beginning, but with time does become much easier - and soon your life will be unrecognisable from the nightmare it was. About the Author: Carl-Peter provides plenty more Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help advice at his website, where you'll also find more detailed Drug and Alcoholism Recovery advice. |