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Recovery is a long process that will continue to change through the rest of someone’s life. Each person may implement new daily practices or adjust coping mechanisms even years after their original recovery program has ended. However, this also means that someone may still experience urges to re-engage with an addictive substance or behavior. Due to addiction’s persistent nature, someone may have to return to a recovery program after experiencing a relapse back into past destructive behaviors. While such an event is unfortunate, it isn’t uncommon, and returning to recovery when someone struggles to stay sober can be the best thing for someone to do for their health.
While addiction is a chronic disease in the brain, it cannot be cured. However, it can be successfully managed. Managing chronic diseases involves changing deeply rooted behaviors. Relapse does not mean failure. It may mean that somebody just needs to resume recovery, try another recovery route, or modify their plan, such as creating a relapse prevention plan.
Returning to Recovery Doesn't Indicate Failure
One of the most significant barriers to returning to a recovery program is the same barrier that those may experience in their first recovery program - the feeling of shame or guilt that may come with addressing one’s use of drugs or alcohol. However, deciding to return to recovery is an essential part of someone’s continued growth and showcases their desire to put their health and future potential first. Returning to recovery isn’t an indication of failure. Instead, it is a time when someone should be rewarded for realizing that they may be re-engaging with an unhealthy lifestyle once again. Beginning a new recovery program indicates that someone has other stressors that need to be addressed or have experienced new hurdles in their recovery.
Returning to recovery also doesn’t mean that someone has to start over completely. Depending on the situation, some people may benefit from addressing their recovery in a wholly new way. In contrast, others may simply need to build on the skills that they have already internalized or found new methods of addressing unforeseen stressors. Talking with professionals and peers about one’s struggles with maintaining sobriety can help someone determine where they may need to begin their new program. Depending on the individual, someone may want to return to a transformational living residence to continue to build upon the skills they have already learned instead of feeling like they have to begin from the ground up in recovery.
Finding What Worked and What Didn't
Returning to recovery doesn’t mean that someone hasn’t learned a plethora of useful, practical skills. There may be many aspects of one’s life that have noticeably improved since their first time in a recovery program that may go unnoticed amidst other stressors. Identifying what worked for someone in their daily lives, what didn’t work, as well as what changes have been occurring in one’s life, can all indicate where someone may need to pick up with their recovery program. For example, someone may find that they have successfully established a helpful and supportive recovery group as well as a very productive daily routine. However, they may also find that their grounding strategies were left unpracticed in the moment, and their use and implementation of breathing techniques or other calming strategies may have suffered. This can indicate that someone is continuing to practice their life and social skills and would benefit from a program that focuses on developing in the moment grounding strategies.
Looking at changes someone has experienced in their lives can help address stressors that may not have been factored in during their first program. For example, someone may be dealing with professional obligations that they didn’t have to prepare for the first time or are dealing with new familial issues causing immense amounts of stress, such as a severe diagnosis of a family member. Even things that may seem optimistic can be changes that someone needs to address, such as someone suddenly making more money and having a larger budget to play with. These changes can introduce new elements into the recovery process that may need to be addressed individually.
Returning to recovery can be filled with shame, but it is also an essential step in someone’s journey to maintain a continuing healthy lifestyle. Sharing one’s experiences with recovery, both their successes and hardships can help everyone continue to develop a continually evolving set of strategies to cope with the many trials of daily life. Finding a new program can help someone focus on their vulnerabilities in a new way while building up a more robust and comprehensive skill set for their success.
Returning to a recovery program doesn’t mean that you have failed. Instead, it signals the need to shift your strategies to better accommodate your changing future in recovery. At START UP RECOVERY, your stay with us can be personalized to fit your own needs and goals in recovery. Working alongside peers, professionals, and mentors, your time with us is structured to find the best way to address your personal needs while utilizing a comprehensive set of core therapeutic practices. The luxurious atmosphere and sense of community that permeates through the living spaces of START UP RECOVERY can help each person share in their strengths and experiences while providing a comfortable space to address their concerns and difficulties. For more information on the various ways, we can personalize a plan for you, or speak to a caring representative about your unique situation, call us today at (310) 773-3809.