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- The recovery process evolves as individual progress through various stages. There are five recovery stages: stabilization, deepening, connectedness, integration and fulfillment. There are many self-help group options, spiritual practices, therapy and self-care that shift over time.
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-high-functioning-alcoholic/202405/the-evolution-of-recovery-from-addiction
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How does the brain change as AUD develops? The brain mediates our motivation to repeat behaviors that lead to pleasurable, rewarding states or reduce uncomfortable, distressing physical or emotional states. In this context, drinking alcohol can be motivated by its ability to provide both relief from aversive states and reward.
- Overview
- The stages of alcohol recovery
- Tips for success in alcohol recovery
- Resources for alcohol recovery
- Takeaway
Recovery from alcohol addiction generally follows the stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth.
If you think you may have a drinking problem, you’re definitely not alone. In 2021, researchers estimated nearly 30 million people ages 12 years and older in the United States had alcohol use disorder (AUD).
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), recovery is a process that involves remission from AUD and quitting heavy drinking for good.
Recovery also involves:
•fulfilling basic human needs
•enhancing one’s social and spiritual life
So far, there’s no consensus on the medical definition of recovery in alcohol treatment literature.
That said, there are four general stages of recovery, as compiled by addiction expert Steven M. Melemis, MD. These stages can help prevent relapse and support people to live healthier, fuller lives.
AUD is a highly treatable disease. When in doubt, follow these tips from Melemis to ensure a successful recovery:
•Change your life: Recovery isn’t just about quitting drinking ― it’s also about creating a new life where it’s much easier not to drink. When your life changes for the better, your drinking habit will no longer have a place in it.
•Be totally honest: Having an addiction often means lying to yourself or others. When you’re fully honest about your habit and how it may be affecting your life, career, and relationships, relapse is much less likely. Even though the honesty may feel extremely uncomfortable, it’s still preferable to perpetuating unhealthy cycles.
•Seek help: Many people try to recover on their own, but like most endeavors, it’s a lot easier when there are others to empathize with and to help hold you accountable. Self-help groups drastically improve chances of sustained recovery, especially when combined with a substance use disorder program.
•Prioritize self-care: Many people drink as a means of relaxation, escape, or to reward themselves. Meanwhile, many self-care habits can help people attain this and more. While many people who attempt to quit drinking may be very critical of themselves, self-care practices encourage releasing guilt and shame in favor of building healthier habits.
•Practice mind-body relaxation: Meditation and mind-body relaxation techniques can reduce alcohol use and prevent relapse by decreasing stress and tension that may otherwise lead to relapse. It’s also a way to be kind to yourself and create space to relax.
Therapy combined with an AUD program tends to lead to a high recovery success rate.
Common support groups for alcohol recovery include:
•Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
•Al-Anon (for friends and family of people living with AUD)
•Alateen
•National Association for Children of Alcoholics
Recovery from AUD is marked by stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth. While the process may take several years, the outcome is a happier, healthier life where you have the freedom to fulfill your full potential.
Combining therapy with support groups can greatly improve your odds of success.
While the recovery period may be challenging, it’s also filled with milestones that can transform your life into one that’s better than you could have previously imagined.
Remember, addiction is treatable. You have options to get where you want to be.
Aug 22, 2024 · 21 min read. The journey to beat addiction is deeply personal yet widely shared. It starts in a dark forest of denial and moves through to understanding, then to action, and finally, a long period of keeping steady. For those dealing with substance abuse, the recovery path has key milestones. Each step forward is an important win.
Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.
Aug 21, 2024 · The Jellinek Curve reminds us that addiction is not a life sentence but rather a treatable condition with a pathway to recovery. People can start their journey toward sobriety by recognizing the signs and symptoms of each stage, seeking timely help, and utilizing the available resources.
How Many Recovery Attempts Does it Take to Successfully Resolve an Alcohol or Drug Problem? Estimates and Correlates From a National Study of Recovering U.S. Adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 43, 1533–1544.
