Different Stages of Addiction Recovery (Not Everyone is Sober, and That’s OK)
What is Addiction Recovery Like?
Addiction recovery is, to say the absolute least, a deeply trying and difficult process—one with numerous different paths, and there should never be shame in choosing the one that works best for your own mental health and well-being. For some struggling with resisting the urges of addiction, a clean break from substances is necessary and even life-saving—but for others, completely cutting oneself off from all drugs or alcohol can be more counterproductive than actually helpful, often leading to harmful relapses.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Individuals currently contemplating or undergoing treatment or working by themselves to deal with and recover from substance abuse issues should seriously consider what level of sobriety would truly work best for them and their long-term recovery, health, and happiness with the help of competent professionals to guide and advise their journey towards personal independence from substances.
The Cold Turkey Approach
Going cold turkey from all drugs or alcohol is often a measure attempted by those who truly view their drug dependency or abuse as having reached a breaking point and need an immediate change, but few who attempt it are truly able to simply cut out substances entirely and remain sober in the long term, especially those dealing with problems related to easily available substances like alcohol.
Limiting Substance Use
For many, a better strategy is often limiting substance use as much as possible, or simply limiting it to social settings, to steadily wean oneself off of dependency while not fully going through withdrawals or feeling the psychological need to relapse. Developing a plan to gradually limit use before deciding whether or not you are physically and mentally ready for complete sobriety. There is no shame or inadequacy in taking the time necessary to fully understand your dependency and how to most effectively manage and overcome it.
Take the Next Step to Full Sobriety
However, it is important to know when full sobriety is the right option. For those whose alcohol or drug abuse issues often lead to destructive or even violent behavior, fully abstaining from all substances with the help of professional expertise may be the best option. And, for those who have been successful in their recovery journeys so far but haven’t taken the final step towards full sobriety—ask yourself if you feel ready, and if full sobriety is truly right for you. Once you are mentally and physically prepared, full sobriety can be a much easier and less miserable goal to maintain. If you have a strong social support system—be it friends, family, or others on their own sobriety journey—complete sobriety may become much less stressful as well, with the help of understanding people in your life to assist in maintaining it.
Set Recovery Goals
Instead of starting your sobriety journey with full abstention, it is perhaps best to set recovery goals for oneself throughout it. Starting with a pledge to reduce substance use, and setting a schedule to follow to reduce substance use, can be far less stressful than full withdrawal, and help give you the confidence in your recovery to go further. Keeping substance use solely to social situations for a time is also a productive option, granted you are able to ensure you keep your substance use to a reasonable level in those times.
Gradually weaning off substances can give those struggling with addiction a feeling of real independence and progress, without immediately going through the difficult physical and mental effects of drug withdrawal, and help give a sense of confidence to possibly continue one’s journey into full, complete sobriety.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for addiction recovery – everyone’s brain, body, and set of personal circumstances are vastly different, and with the help of professional advice and a strong personal support system, finding the path towards sobriety that works best for one’s individual needs is truly possible.
Contact Intent Clinical to Learn More About Substance Abuse Treatment
If you or a loved one is struggling with going fully sober, please contact our clinic at 617-910-3940 or fill out a contact form here.
