It is not easy by any means to overcome a serious drug or alcohol addiction in the long run. Many people who struggle with these problems will eventually have bouts of sobriety or abstinence, but inevitably return to using at some point in the near future. The problem is not quitting drugs, it is staying away from them. When you factor in that many people who have several years of recovery under their belt also end up relapsing, you can see that addiction is a very devastating problem.
But on the other hand, many people do overcome addiction, and enjoy years and years of abstinence, freedom, and growth in recovery. What is the secret to their success as opposed to the person who is always relapsing and struggling? Let’s take a look at some of the common factors of success:
1) Holistic health – people who go beyond just quitting the drugs in terms of their health tend to better. Eventually they stop smoking cigarettes, change their diet, seek emotional stability, and get into better shape. Having an overall image of good health is a big part of recovery. Illnesses and injury can easily lead to addictive medications. Illnesses can also lead to depression and the need to self medicate. It happens a lot.
2) Personal growth – if you do not push yourself to grow and learn and become a better person in recovery, then you are on the road to certain relapse. Those who strive to improve their lives tend to do well in recovery. Always be learning, always be challenging yourself to grow. Some people preach acceptance as a method of justifying their laziness in recovery. Don’t fall into this trap. Force yourself to change on a regular basis. If you want to stop drinking alcohol it is the same thing: push yourself to grow and evolve or you will end up drunk again.
3) Connections with others – those who isolate in recovery tend to do poorly. Reaching out to others is a sign of strength in recovery.
Comments on this entry are closed.