Recovery just doesn’t involve abstaining from substance use. It goes way beyond that. Recovery is a way of life. It becomes your life. Recovery from substance use, regardless of how much and how long you used, is more than possible. The U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health has reported that recovery is a reality for more than 75% of those who were once in active drug addiction.
There is no one path nor one right way to recover from drug use. No one ever said that the road to recovery was going to be easy. It is a road that is full of twists, turns, and bumps. Recovery begins with the individual learning coping skills and practicing those skills. Ultimately, the individual goes through a change in their behavior. A person has to change many aspects of their life including the people they socialize with, the places they go, and the things that they do.
In the process of recovery, the brain attempts to return to a normal state, which involves the brain cells being restored to their capacity of being able to respond to their natural reward system. This allows the person to regain control over their urge to use. Many individuals ask how long recovery takes. My answer to that question would be as long as it takes. As I stated earlier, recovery is a way of life. The main reason that individuals refuse to attempt recovery
is because they become addicted to the lifestyle just as much as they do the substances. Another reason for their fear is that they don’t have anything to instantly make them feel better. People don’t like to be uncomfortable and therefore, some people find the fastest route back to a state of comfortability, hence drug use. This is where all the facets of recovery come into play. Recovery is not out of anyone’s reach. If you want it, you have to go get it. So, what’s stopping you?
Psychology Today. (2024). Recovery from Addiction. Retrieved from Recovery from Addiction | Psychology Today