A part of addiction recovery that often goes unspoken is the fact that we change as people. We learn more about who we are, we reinvent ourselves, and we create a life that’s more fitting to what we want. In many cases, this involves a change in social networks.
The people with whom we used to abuse substances no longer fit into our life anymore and new connections take hold. Life begins to shift more towards a recovery perspective, and this changes everything. Although this will feel like a significant change, it’s something that you should embrace, not fear.
Identity Seeking: A Common Experience
Previous studies have found that self-identity is a common theme explored in addiction recovery, and is found through various means such as 12-Step programs and therapy. Some common experiences people have in addiction recovery include:
- A sensation of being able to “restore” our previously positive identity, the one that was there before addiction took over.
- Greater strength and love in building community through 12-Step programs.
- Enhanced resilience after the first month of sobriety, which is often the hardest.
- Changing from a personal perspective of being an “addict” to a “person in recovery.”
The Healing Process
Often, these aspects of identity and healing are hard to grasp because we want to quickly pinpoint who we are and where we’re at in life. As human beings, we crave the labels that come with us throughout life, such as a “brother,” “husband,” “businessman,” etc.
These labels may have made it easier for us to identify who we are and our place in the world. However, what comes with recovery is this stripped-down version of ourselves without these labels, which forces us to strictly focus on ourselves as human beings.
We begin to think about what our beliefs, attitudes, and values truly are. The reality is that we’re all going to make mistakes, and the errors of our past don’t have to weigh us down any longer.
If you’re ready to begin your own transformation through identity, healing, and strength, speak with someone at Avalon Malibu today. It’s never too late to start turning your life around. We offer individualized treatment and recovery care while also understanding the link between mental health and substance abuse. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell, and that’s why we always put the patient first. For more information, call (844) 857-5992 today.
