The 12 step addiction recovery model is one of the most common and beneficial recovery programs available for individuals who are striving to recover from addiction. Research has proven that many addicts only half commit to recovering from addiction; however, it has been recorded that if a person can commit to a 12-step recovery program, that their ability to fully recover is much stronger. Here are some of the benefits of that a 12-step addiction recovery program offers for recovering addicts.
Addiction affects families as well as individuals. It detaches the addict from the family unit, deteriorating trust, safety and security. It also creates fear, guilt and resentment among family members. Healing the family is crucial for the long term success of the addict as well as the success of the family.
Recovery from addiction can be a time when you’re feeling uncertain about your future and uncertain as to how you will find purpose in your life after addiction. Finding purpose, however, is essential to remaining accountable for staying sober, and it can offer something rewarding to fill your time with. Here are some things that you might be able to find purpose in as you navigate recovery from addiction.
Do you have a friend or family member who is currently undergoing recovery from addiction? If so, your loved one has a great many emotional and/or spiritual needs to be filled, and for some of these needs, it is best for a friend or family member to be there to fill them. Here are some of the greatest needs that your loved one will have as a recovering addict, along with what you can do to fill those needs.
Some view addiction recovery treatment as a step that only follows hitting “rock bottom” with a drug or alcohol addiction, or as a step taken only out of weakness. And while recovery from addiction can come at the point when an addiction becomes life inhibiting, it remains a courageous choice nonetheless. Whether you’re choosing to receive treatment out of complete necessity, or you’re choosing it before an addiction leads to consequences like unemployment and financial struggle, choosing to receive treatment requires courage. If you’re getting ready to receive treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction or are in the early stages of recovery following extensive treatment, you may be wondering where you’ll find the courage needed in order to move forward. Here are some ways that you can gain a better understanding of courage and use it to fuel your recovery.
An addiction is difficult enough for an individual who is struggling with substance abuse; when marriage enters the picture, addiction harms not only the person addicted but also the spouse and, in turn, the marriage as a whole. Living with a spouse who has become addicted to drugs or alcohol can be extremely difficult, and you might find yourself at a loss for how to support your spouse as he or she attempts to overcome addiction. Here are some healthy ways in which you can offer support to a spouse who is coping with an addiction.
Addiction is a disease that often surfaces with some kind of co-occurring mental disorder, and most often anxiety is one of them. The way that addiction alters the brain chemistry sets up the perfect conditions for anxiety to take root, which makes it even harder to overcome addiction. As the two feed into each other, it creates a downward spiral that usually requires professional help to overcome.
Prescription drugs are the third most commonly abused drugs in the U.S, right behind alcohol and marijuana. 1 in 5 Americans report that they have abused prescription drugs at some point, and the numbers continue to rise. The availability of these types of drugs, along with common misunderstandings about the risks involved in abusing them, continue to fuel misuse of and addiction to these drugs.
Addiction is a disease that has destructive effects on relationships. As the addict deteriorates and loses control, they cause direct harm to those who love them the most. Addiction is especially hard on a marriage. The spouse of the addict often tries to pick up slack and find a way for the family to survive. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with an addict. There are lies and deception; and then there are physical, financial, psychological, and emotional consequences which can impact the safety and security of both marriage and family. The aftermath is often two people who are broken, tired, and feeling hopeless as recovery begins. Whether your spouse is struggling with addiction or in recovery, you also deserve help and healing.
If addiction only affected the addict, the recovery process would be much simpler. This is not the case. Many of us have found important relationships put in jeopardy because of the disease. This sets up catch-22: we need support to overcome our addiction, yet we have often alienated those who would be the most supportive of us. So, when embarking on the road to recovery, we need to begin rebuilding those relationships. Taking just a few simple steps will be surprisingly productive, so give it a try!