by Carl-Peter

Look – the first thing that you need to understand, is that recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism, is something totally separate from treating these addictions.

The treatment of addiction is in most cases about the period of roughly a month – where you’ll be at rehab or addiction treatment facility detoxing and receiving various form of treatment – to help you deal with the various factors that have resulted in you going down the road of addiction.

Recovery then – is what follows going to rehab and receiving treatment. It’s pretty much then about what you do for the rest of your life to maintain your sobriety by staying off the drugs or alcohol. I think many that go into treatment don’t get this at first and that’s why relapse rates can be high – because they see treatment as the end of the road for them, when in fact it’s really only the beginning.

Recovery from alcoholism and addiction then, is in essence, about the consistent habits and new way of life you create for yourself – so that you stay on the road of recovery road and don’t end up relapsing.

It’s the 12-Step or other spiritual program you follow, the new (non-addict) friends you now spend your time with, it’s the continuous taking ownership of your emotions and feelings so you don’t get into a state where you want to have that drink or pick up that drug, phoning that friend for support when you’re feeling low and more vulnerable

So in other words – recovery is all about taking continuous action and forming new life affirming habits that will leave the destructive addict part of you a thing of history – and bring to the fore your warrior, spirited self that will flourish despite what life may throw at you.

So the treatment of any addiction should be seen as the stepping stone and preparation for a life of recovery. It’s the beginning – rather than the end of the road. Now I know there are people that leave a life of addiction behind them without going the treatment/rehab route – but they’ve also done it by making significant changes in most areas of their lives and working at it consistently.

So when trying to understand alcohol addiction recovery and drug addiction recovery – remember its something you do and work at for the rest of your life. It can be hard at the beginning, but with time does become much easier – and soon your life will be unrecognisable from the nightmare it was.

About the Author:
Carl-Peter provides plenty more Advice on Alcohol Abuse and Drug Addiction at his website, where you’ll also discover an interesting How to Stop Drinking article.

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