ADDICTION RECOVERY
A common misconception in the recovery community is not using drugs, drinking alcohol or acting out on behaviors equals recovery. This however is simple abstinence. It is not what we call addiction recovery. It is removing the substance and changing none of the behaviour. For this statement to make more sense, let’s work out what addiction recovery and abstinence actually mean.
ABSTINENCE IN ADDICTION RECOVERY
Abstinence is a voluntary forbearance, especially from indulgence of an appetite, or a craving. Abstinence is the habitual abstaining from intoxicating beverages. Many people arrive in drug rehabilitation centers or fellowship meetings and believe that because they no longer use drugs they are in recovery. This happens very often. We see it all the time. People, who have stopped using drugs, food, sex or drink for example. They are abstinent yes, but in recovery? Unfortunately, and more often than not, we think not. Nothing changes if nothing changes after all. We cannot expect different outcomes without changing our behavior. Without changing our thinking. Without changing the way we act out and why! If one looked into their lives, they are perhaps much the same as they were when they were using. Take a closer look and perhaps you will see this for yourself. They are restless, angry, resentful and dysfunctional. They blame, gossip, moan and complain. This is not addiction recovery. It is easy to see the change that is needed has not taken place.
In Alcoholics Anonymous meetings these people are referred to as ‘dry drunks’. The behavior is referred to as stinking thinking. It is believed that these people will eventually fall prey to themselves and drink again. History has taught us as much. This leads to the next point that we feel is important to understand when it comes to addiction recovery. The quality of life in recovery needs to be better than the life we have left! If this is not so the desire to drink and use will more than likely return. This is abstinence versus addiction recovery.
FULL DEFINITION OF ADDICTION RECOVERY
1: The act or process of becoming healthy after an illness or injury: the act or process of recovering.
2: The act or process of returning to a normal state after a period of difficulty.
3: The return of something that has been lost, stolen, etc.
Abstinence plus change equals addiction recovery. Addiction recovery doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process of change. The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a method towards this change. It is a suggested program of recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Further, other fellowships have mirrored AA’s 12 steps and had many, many people gaining freedom through the process. Over-eaters anonymous, and Narcotics anonymous are two such examples. Addiction recovery starts with identifying a specific problem.
And so we learn through the 12 step addiction recovery process that it takes a lot more than simply not using or drinking to change things. We take a rigorous course of internal introspection to find out what behaviors, attitudes and patterns need to change for us to live full, joy filled lives. A belief in something outside of ourselves is also key to the recovery process. relying on self or willpower, whatever you want to call it, doesn’t bring about lasting change. You can’t solve the problem with the thinking that caused the problem. So abstinence doesn’t quite hack it.
In addiction recovery me becomes we. We reach out to others who have done it before us and ask for guidance from them. We listen to suggestions and follow directions. We delve into addiction recovery as an all out, whole, complete, no stone upturned change. Yes the booze is first to go. But that is just the very beginning of the tipping point we look for in addiction recovery.
The Big Book and addiction recovery
Take a look at this little excerpt from AA literature. There is a paragraph from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous that goes like this.
“Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we only know a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answer will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the great fact for us.
Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the fellowship of the spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you – until then.” – A vision for you, Big Book page 164.
For more help with addiction recovery get in touch with Pathways Plett Rehab Centre. We’re here to help.
