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Recovery may consistently be a part of someone’s life. Leaving a transformational living facility and moving back in with family or a loved one doesn’t indicate that recovery is over. Instead, someone may still be attending outpatient recovery programs and fine-tuning their recovery toolkit. New therapeutic approaches are continuously being tried, and it is always beneficial to try new coping strategies to be prepared for the constantly changing reality of the world. Talking about these continued needs in the life-long recovery journey can help someone set themselves up for continued success. Alongside loved ones, someone can better understand addiction’s complicated nature while still providing adequate support for someone’s ongoing sobriety.
Recovery isn't Binary
Talking about the needs that someone may still have after their recovery program requires a shared understanding of the situation as a whole. Unfortunately, addiction is often thought of in binary terms, especially when discussing it with individuals who may not have been exposed to the reality of the disease themselves. Addiction doesn’t operate on a black and white scale and is much more complicated than saying someone either “is” or “is not” suffering from addiction. Someone who has been through a recovery program may still be learning how to cope with all of the real world’s stressors. It is unrealistic to expect someone to pick life back up where they left it before recovery. Deconstructing the idea that sobriety is a binary concept that needs to be addressed for each person to understand the constant need for change and communication at any stage in one’s life.
Beginning the Discussion
Living with a loved one after a recovery transformation can be difficult, and many stressors may exist in the house that can remind someone of their past behaviors. Even innocuous things, such as a specific trinket on a desk, can house memories of someone’s previous mistakes before recovery. When opening up a discussion about one’s needs, beginning with articulating how these environmental aspects affect someone can create a significant starting point to reach an understanding. Identifying stressors and how they affect each individual can also help inform others of the reasons behind particular needs. Discussing these stressors and the context they hold for each individual can establish a healthy dialogue about one’s continued care and the changes that may need to be made going forward. Beginning the discussion with physical objects as references is a powerful way to explain how stressors may work for each person and the detrimental effects they can have on a person’s recovery.
Changing One's Environment
Changing environments can help someone begin to detach particular objects or rooms from previous connotations and prompt new associations tied to previously detrimental parts of one’s environment. Changing décor in some regions of the house or rearranging rooms can be the first step to creating new connotations. Someone may have spent their time drinking and playing video games in a particular area, and transforming that space into a yoga studio, art studio, or home office can open the doors for creating new memories associated with that space. Even taking down posters and replacing them with elements of their new, sober identity can continue to reinforce their goals in recovery, creating an atmosphere that allows someone to look forward rather than feel as if they are trapped in the past.
Celebrate and Culture
Discussing celebrations before they happen can help someone better outline their needs with their loved ones. Examples of celebrations may include holidays or sporting events. These times may hold close ties to drinking or other practices that may not be conducive to continued recovery. Planning what these holidays will look like ahead of time, and adjusting the plans as needed, can help someone create new, sober memories to replace the old ones slowly. Thanksgiving celebrations may become more and more about the history of the holiday, rather than drinking or shopping. New traditions may need to be experimented with before the World Series each year that don’t involve drinking beer. Creating a new culture around these holidays can help someone continue on a significant recovery path.
Language
The words that each person uses can also cause their stressors, and opening a dialogue about the needs someone may have in terms of language may also be necessary. Discussing the various effects of words like “addict” instead of “addiction” can help someone better describe their needs and the continuing nature of recovery. Some words may need to be avoided, and mentions of certain activities, times of the year, or even shared memories can all hold various meanings to different people. Explaining how language can affect someone’s recovery can prepare them to change certain words or parts of their overall vocabulary.
Recovery doesn’t have an end date, and talking about your continued needs is essential at any stage in recovery. If you or a loved one are struggling with your relationship to drugs or alcohol, or are looking to continue your recovery, START UP RECOVERY can help personalize a plan for your stay that is unique to your situation. By personalizing your stay, addressing unique approaches pertinent to your goals, and backing it up with a robust culture of accountability and community, your time with us challenges you to reach beyond sobriety and into the transformational nature of recovery. Our luxurious atmosphere promotes comfort, even during the most challenging times in recovery. New options are always being explored for each individual to find a unique way for you to accent your strengths. For more information on how we can individualize your stay with us, or discuss your unique concerns with a caring, trained staff member, call us today at (310) 773-3809.