What Is the Significance of Understanding the Phases of Addiction Recovery?
Addiction recovery isn’t a straightforward process. Rehabilitation can be viewed as a journey through unknown territory towards your final destination. Although addiction recovery literature rarely mentions the process of recovery, knowing this notion can help you or a loved one when seeking treatment.
It’s easy for some people to transition through the stages of addiction recovery, whereas others find it challenging because the motivation to seek help varies widely due to different reasons. For some, addiction is the same as addiction, even when it has extreme consequences. Even people with knowledge that they are suffering, may still find it difficult to find the motivation and self-control to take action and begin participating in the stages of addiction recovery. Occasionally an individual will identify the need for a change. In this sense, they are prepared to take whatever steps to obtain and maintain the necessary support.
Ultimately, addiction recovery must begin with ourselves. In one of his best-selling books, Eckhart Tolle famously stated that a world can only be improved from the inside out. I want to clarify that I am not suggesting you look outside yourself for the things that bring you negativity. I suggest you first look within yourself, whether this is the root cause of it. The question is, what holds you back from achieving your goals instead of propelling you forward? To change the world around you, you must first transform yourself. The first step of addiction recovery is becoming the best version of yourself.
Throughout countless rehabilitation programs in our country over the years, we have generated more optimism for the idea that addiction recovery and withdrawals can be achieved through motivation and positive action — so that individuals will find sobriety. To overcome substance abuse, it is important to conquer underlying fears that contribute to substance abuse. You need to know yourself and change for the better because you can live a positive, fulfilling, and productive life after addiction recovery.
You might also be personally familiar with the strain and hurt that addictions have brought in your life if you or someone you care about struggles with addiction and subsequent addiction recovery. Most people do not realize the inner workings, turmoil, and triggers that led to problematic drug use make many people feel clueless. Several mental, emotional, and physical impacts are associated with drug addiction. People know so much about themselves that we’re sometimes unaware of what they’re going through or the reasons for their choices. I understand that many addicts complete a comprehensive internal discussion before they decide to change by committing themselves to the stages of addiction recovery.
One of the interesting approaches to letting go of bad old habits offers one of the more interesting angles provided by the book by psychotherapists James Prochaska, John Norcross, and Carlo DiClemente, published in 1994. Its Transtheoretical Model provides a comprehensive approach to treatment and addiction recovery for youth and adults that Prochaska, Norcross, and DiClemente outline in their book, The Transtheoretical Design for Youth Recovery. One’s healing journey has five stages to it, derived from a comprehensive understanding of human development and a step-by-step understanding of the stages of emotional recovery. The sixth stage provides an easy-to-understand critique of the rehabilitation process by providing specific checkpoints on the long road to addiction recovery. It is extremely important to dissect the importance of this model. Each one should be examined individually until one comprehends the significance of each one.
Pre-Contemplation Stage
As the consequences of the behaviors increase and the frequency increases, the dependency increases; pre-contemplation is a phase of relapse prevention done by people who believe they ought to be in rehabilitation, even if they know their addiction to drugs and alcohol is not a disease. Individuals addicted to substances may realise they’re addicted to them and, at the outset of addiction recovery, prefer not to seek help, continuing with their addiction instead. In effect, it is believed that the abuse and misuse of alcohol or drugs are seen as forgivable and worthwhile for their effects in the short term.
A person currently undergoing addiction recovery treatment should seek assistance so as to get fully involved with the recovery process and accept that staying sober is the goal for pursuing treatment.
The Individual Must Do the Following Things to Overcome the Problem of Substance Abuse:
- Make sure they know what addiction recovery process can be
- Consider denial about the problem.
- Motivate the individual to participate in each stage of addiction recovery
The history of drug and alcohol abuse will be examined at this stage, assessing people based on their present and past behavior. A counsellor should outline the individual’s treatment plan and tailor it to their specific needs when introducing the treatment program to them.
Contemplation Stage
A significant milestone in the transition from pre-contemplation to contemplation appears to be the widespread acceptance of the severity of the consequences addiction recovery process has on people. Particularly, those addicts are beginning to realize the harm caused by their habit daily. The researchers aren’t sure yet whether or not the adverse consequences of alcohol or drug abuse outweigh the enjoyment derived from such behaviors. Contemplation occurs during the stages of addiction recovery; An addict is open to the prospect of recovery and is willing to consider it; However, at the same time, they have not come to any decision on whether or not to continue their addictions. A point may come when it begins to seem probable that success in the addiction recovery will occur, given the stage of success we are in.
One of The Most Challenging Aspects of This Step Is that It Might Be Extremely Difficult Due To:
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Psychological dependence
- A relapse trigger
- Cravings
Participants who are working through the stages of addiction recovery may openly admit they suffered from substance abuse in the past and may wish to make a last effort to deal with substance addiction problems. They still make excuses or justify themselves in the absence of participation in the stages of addiction recovery. A valid reason can appear to be presented in some cases. Saying you would get alcoholism treatment when you leave your stressful job, for example, could break the habit. This way, you will no longer feel like you are self-medicating.
Preparation Stage
The point at which an addict decides to stop contemplating to do it is where they realize the consequences of their addiction recovery far outweigh any perceived benefits. The most crucial aspect of getting sober consists of a human being who accepts that living an alcohol-dependent lifestyle is unhealthy and that he or she desires to change it. Having reviewed the history of the addiction recovery process, the next step for all participants can be considered preparations. The individual falling under this stage becomes fully aware that he/she can make a positive difference not only to their lives but also to the lives of others around them. Having decided to seek help, the addict’s friends, partners, and friends offer him or her support and encourage him or her on the road to addiction recovery. While he or she learns about new treatment options, the patient is becoming more proactive regarding substance abuse issues. The individual participating in the program may have verbally or in writing committed to receiving assistance.
Action Stage
The client that has succeeded in removing the obstacles to contemplation and prepares for action is all set to take action. As a result of this phase of the addiction, addicts are prepared to begin addiction recovery by joining a 12-Step program, starting therapy, and learning other ways to heal their addiction. As there are crucial ways in identifying addictions that are causing difficulties for you, these stages of addiction recovery are quite different from the other stages in terms of how they impact the addict. To attain better health or greater productivity, the focus must be placed on making the necessary lifestyle adjustments that can ensure a better quality of life and a higher quality of life over time. Also, we plan to return the individual to a stable diet, exercise regularly, and improve their reading skills and addiction recovery.
Maintenance Stage
During lifelong addiction recovery, an individual who has completed his/her treatment program or other resources will be on their own now for achieving and maintaining behavioral health. Those who participate in the program’s action stage will have their sobriety maintained with the chance to receive counselling for this purpose. People who relapse during the maintenance stage are more likely to do so if they weren’t more diligent about getting their treatment. This is often the reason why it’s often overlooked. Just as someone who needs to practice performing a skill must perfect it, a person in recovery also needs to practice the virtues of living life in addiction recovery. There are essentially two phases in a designer’s life: The design process, which occurs first in the conceptual/design phase, and the execution, which happens during the actual build phase.
Termination Stage
When the project comes to an end, all the phases of addiction recovery have been completed to achieve a stable state. Although maintaining sobriety is a lifelong process, individuals in the termination stage of rehabilitation will likely have regained their health, left unhealthy ties behind, maintained stable employment or in their careers, and were financially independent. A group of people are getting better in this phase that would complain that going back to active addiction as opposed to addiction recovery is not how they want it to be, but they seem to be glad to be at least free of their behaviors, which brought them there.
Approaches to Consider Include:
- Goal setting in a realistic way
- Consistently planning the day-to-day activities of your staff.
- A relationship with a person who does not drink or use drugs that do not include the provision of alcohol is a relationship that forms across a wide array of different personalities.
- Participating in alcohol-free recreational activities
- Infusing one’s approach to daily life with faith, spirituality, community service, or social activism.
There is no doubt that the six stages of healing can seem overwhelming and complex. Still, the good news is that they aim to simplify and make addiction recovery an enjoyable experience. Then why are they so essential to our day to day lives? Are there any benefits that can be derived from the six steps?
There are numerous methods available to help people become sober, such as clinical treatment, 12-Step programs, or other programs. Since this plan accommodates a wide variety of ways people get sober, it can accommodate a wide array of people. The six stages of addiction recovery simplify the process, making it easier for non-addiction specialists to comprehend. In addition, your plan allows you to understand each stage of your addiction recovery so you can create a plan that works for you.
The consequences of a person recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury are essentially momentous in relation to addiction recovery from a substance. We can read the steps and learn from them what patients need to know to help them and discover ways to maximize the effectiveness of treatments and other aids.
The challenges of addiction recovery can be so difficult because of the wide range of withdrawal symptoms you will face. Still, dual diagnosis is here to provide you with the necessary support and assistance. We encourage you to call us at 615-490-9376 to schedule a no-obligation free consultation so that we may walk you through the steps of addiction recovery.
Ben Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health, fitness and medicine. His articles impress with unique research work as well as field-tested skills. He is a freelance medical writer specializing in creating content to improve public awareness of health topics. We are honored to have Ben writing exclusively for Dualdiagnosis.org.