No matter if you’ve been working towards your recovery for a month, a year, or 10 years, there’s no doubt there will be challenging times. Recovery – like life – is comprised of many ups and downs, achievements and downfalls, moments of glory and moments of disappointment. Perhaps you’ve just received devastating news, or maybe you’re having an “off” day and feel anxious or depressed. No matter the case, it’s completely normal to worry about your progress. This is a sign that you genuinely care – if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be working towards your recovery at all, and you would have already given up. If you’re reading this, clearly you haven’t – which shows that you are getting better, you can keep going, and you will succeed.
Perspective is one of the most important aspects of recovery. We all have different perspectives of what recovery means to us – but what we choose sets a precedence for how we carry ourselves through the ups and downs. Take, for example, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. An internet-based survey was completed by 9,341 individuals who self-identified as being “in recovery, recovered, in medication-assisted recovery, or as having had a problem with alcohol or drugs (but no longer do).” Results from the survey indicated 4 domain themes of perspective on recovery, with 35 elements total. The four themes are described below:
Abstinence in recovery – no use of alcohol, no misuse of prescribed medications, no use of non-prescribed drugs
Essentials of recovery – being honest with oneself, handling negative feelings without using drugs, being able to enjoy life without drinking or using drugs like one used to
Enriched recovery – a process of growth and development, reacting to life’s ups and downs in a more balanced way than one used to, taking responsibility for the things one can change
Spirituality of recovery – gratitude, giving back, helping others
Ninety-seven percent of participants agreed that recovery is “a continuous process that never ends.” You’re not alone – there are so many other people out there who are struggling, but keep trying. Just as these individuals have, you can form your own perception of what recovery means to you. Once you’ve done this, you can choose to live by the values you’ve set for yourself. You may not recognize progress immediately, but it’s there. Just as a person may not recognize subtle changes in their appearance from seeing their reflection in the mirror each day, you may not notice slight changes on a day-to-day basis, but that doesn’t mean progress hasn’t occurred. Don’t give up.
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-958-7511 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you.
