Steps To Follow For A Successful Recovery From Addiction

Alcohol problems and other drug dependencies can break apart families and, even successful people, into mere shadows of who they were before. The consequences can be disastrous, but there is real promise in online recovery from addiction to create lasting change and allow people to get back to a beautiful life, free of their addiction.

Those addicted, and their families, usually find it useful to get a clear understanding of the different addiction recovery phases. Every level, or phase, of recovery explains how to identify the issue, accept it, get ready for actionable change, and manage drug and alcohol use (or complete abstinence) following treatment.

When looking to figure out how to quit drinking, it is very important to select programs or approaches that are evidence-based, scientific in nature, and have the ability personalize and customize the help for each person.

Proper Steps For Successful Recovery From Addiction:

Alcohol use disorders often require strength, patience, determination, and support to truly overcome long term. People can quit drinking alcohol by following a specific program of recovery when they choose to join a successful and expert alcohol treatment program. During this time, a person will learn how to lead a healthy, drug-free lifestyle while gaining practice in specific tools and habits often required for successful recovery.


The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA, link) created the 4-phase plan outlined below as a reference for personalized drug counselling for medical professionals. Still, it can also be a helpful paradigm for anyone looking for successful recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs. According to this theory, recuperation is an iterative journey.

Here are the proposed steps for successful recovery from addiction:

Phase 1: Therapy Initiation

The person's background regarding drug and alcohol use would be gathered during this phase of treatment. The therapy program is discussed, and the counsellor collaborates with the patient to create a customized treatment plan.

You'll likely feel conflicted regarding quitting alcohol forever, or simply reducing. The question of am I an alcoholic or addict often comes up during this early phase of treatment. While a worthwhile question, it’s important to focus on the task at hand during this phase – beginning true treatment initiation in a supportive environment with an eye towards total relief of the addiction problem long-term.

Phase 2: Initial Abstinence and sobriety

An initial period of alcohol abstinence early in the recovery process is strongly connected with long-term success. Cravings, peer pressure to consume, and elevated scenarios which can lead to alcohol consumption are difficulties at this phase of treatment. To develop the right skills, it can be helpful to avoid alcohol altogether during this phase of care initiation.

A certified recovery counsellor can help support and teach you the protective factors that can help to maintain a sober practice while you are still in the initial phases of abstinence. Training yourself at saying no early in the recovery process will be difficult, but can prove incredibly useful later.

Phase 3: Continued Abstinence

One can pass from the initial abstinence phase to the third phase, sustaining abstinence, following 90 days or so of uninterrupted sobriety. Maintaining abstinence by preventing a release or a slip is one of rehab's primary goals. You can discover the indicators and actions that really can precede a slip-up or relapse.

It is important to note that many people find recovery without ever committing to long-term abstinence. Still, short period of abstinence and skill training are very common and can be incredibly important to assure long-term recovery success.

Stage 4: Long-term recovery

After 5 years of continued recovery (defined as no return to baseline behaviours or struggles) is an incredibly powerful landmark that is often defined as having achieved long-term recovery success. When a patient reaches this landmark, it is important to celebrate not only the abstinence (or substantial reduction), but also the increased engagement in pro-social, positive behavior that has led to this success.

Conclusion:

It takes determination and adjustments in several areas of a person's body for addiction recovery and rehabilitation to be successful. Individuals with alcohol dependence can educate about the advantages of rehabilitation, discover the drive to alter their behavior and acquire strategies to enable people to maximize their potential by using these 4 stages of therapy.