Acknowledging that we are powerless against substance use and addiction is often painful. But to get the help we need, we may have to swallow our pride. Addiction treatment itself can be a humbling experience, especially if we are not used to being vulnerable. However, even if we felt humbled during or after treatment doesn’t
During treatment, we need to work through many layers, including what led us to end up where we are today. The process can be painful as it requires us to look back on our past trauma and mistakes we have made. Often there are deep and challenging feelings that are unprocessed, and a part of
During treatment, we are usually placed with a therapist who can help us through the process of sobriety. However, recovery is a life-long journey, and it can be beneficial to continue seeing a therapist even long after we complete treatment. Even if we feel as though we have worked through the issues affecting our struggle
We may have had goals and aspirations before struggling with substance abuse. However, we often learn more about ourselves as we go through recovery, and our vision for our lives may have changed. How do we decide where to go after treatment? How do we figure out if we still have the same goals as
When we have come to terms with our substance abuse, we may begin to recognize the many ways it has made our lives unmanageable. We may feel as though we are living in chaos, without any structure to our days. Once in sobriety, we may find it helpful to reevaluate what is important to us
Once in recovery, we may find ourselves at a crossroads between what we used to enjoy before struggling with substance abuse and what we thought we enjoyed while actively struggling with substance abuse. We may have become closer with people who were using and damaged our relationships with sober friends and family. The way we
As kids, many of us had role models that we looked up to. Often, that person had the qualities we aspired to have as adults. Now in adulthood and newly in recovery, we can benefit greatly from finding a mentor. Building a relationship with someone who has been through treatment and has the qualities we
When we were kids and had a fight with one of our friends, our parents would tell us to take responsibility and apologize. That concept is used throughout our lives, but what happens when the reason for the apology is too painful to even think about? How can we make amends with someone who may
Many of us have learned in school that answering the who, what, where, when, and why of a topic can help us understand it better. This is true for treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) as well. There is a lot to think about when trying to find treatment, and it can often feel overwhelming.
Substance use disorder (SUD) can affect anyone. Although different people can have different risk factors, there isn’t a specific type of background or personality required for someone to develop an addiction. SUD doesn’t discriminate, and those providing treatment mustn’t discriminate either. What Is Inclusivity? Many people have felt excluded at some point in their lives.
