Page Title: Importance of Community in Recovery from Addiction | Medciencia Meta Description: Community plays a very important role in the recovery from any addiction. Learn more about its importance in living a sober and healthier life. Why Community Is Important in Recovery from Addiction “It takes a village.” “No man is an island.” “There’s power in numbers.” All of these famous sayings revolve around the same idea: People are able to survive and thrive better with the help of others. That is why we form communities and build relationships. For someone who is recovering from addiction, social connection and community is all the more important. To Sustain Recovery Living a sober and healthier life begins by acknowledging …show more content…
You have to reintegrate yourself into society and deal with the obstacles to rebuild your life in the ‘real world’. And without a healthy and supportive community post-rehab, it can be more challenging to sustain long-term recovery. Dealing with everyday stresses can be overwhelming for most people, all the more for recovering addicts. If you don’t have access to a support group who can help you manage these feelings in a positive way, you may be pushed to find social connections and coping mechanisms in other avenues. You may seek old relationships or habits that reawaken tempting behaviors. On the other hand, if you have a community you can turn to, you have a safe place to go when you need support, motivation, comfort, guidance, and assistance. In addition, you can get help in finding safe housing, a job, and hobbies. As a result, addiction recovery can be more progressive and consistent. Finally, accountability to your peers is a key component of recovery communities and is a vital factor in sustaining sobriety. This idea can encourage you to make the right decisions and push you to continue being a better version of you. To Get …show more content…
There are other people who can empathize with you and provide you the understanding you need. Most importantly, you all have the same goal—to live sober and healthier lives. Together you can provide insight and support to each other, especially during difficult moments when you can become vulnerable. To Live a Healthier Lifestyle Achieving sobriety is just one phase of your recovery. After stopping substance abuse or other forms of addiction, you have to continue the progress you’ve made by living a healthier lifestyle. Having relationships that are founded on a common desire to stay clean can make it easier for you to develop positive habits. Together with your recovery community, you can work on changing unhealthy behaviors and patterns. It can also be more fun and motivating to do yoga, try a new diet plan, do volunteer work, train for a marathon, join an art class, or learn how to cook nutritious menus when you do it in a group. To Find Purpose Again Recovery communities provide opportunities for you to share your expertise and talents. If you are able and willing, you can give back by sharing your experience and providing strength and hope to others in the
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
...e or social group for being an addict if it is not fully understood that they are trying to recover from their addiction (Methadone Cons).
There are many options when it comes to recovery, for example it provides addicts a way to get moral support and sober-living help from others that are suffering from the same neuro-disease. One of the most important of recovery is support groups and meetings, which are set up nationwide. Two of the most popular groups are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These groups branch out and offer different types of support .Discussion meetings; a group leader choses a topic about recovery that the group will discuss. Another type of group is a speaker meetings; an addict that has been through recovery will share tips and experiences with the group. AA and NA groups are based off the 12-Step Program. The 12-Steps are a set up through a spiritual aspect. To pass a step one must complete the task given I the step. The first step is, 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable. The task in this step is to show addicts that using the substance are wearing on their life. The 12-Steps also help addicts reconnect with family that they might have hurt in the process of the addiction. The eighth step states, Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Last is, having...
However, rather than treating an addiction like a disease, society treats addiction by stigmatizing the person like a failure, and criminal. Those who suffer with this disease, both the addict, and their friends and family, are usually isolated by judgment and embarrassment from others, who are unaware and ignorant to the issue. As a result, the disease sadly often goes unrecognized and untreated, especially among the poor, and those who are unable to get proper treatment. Once again, I am very happy after attending my second meeting, and it has an overall great experience. I wish more people were open to meetings to see how great and beneficial they are to all kinds of people, and this summer that is my goal to open others up to attending meetings that could help benefit
...meeting was one of awe and some relief. This meeting made me realize that I should really appreciate the things that I have in life because there are others out there who are way off worse. What I learned from the meeting is that the problem is not how much you drink; it’s what happens when you drink. Getting clean and sober is for those who want it, not those who need it. The key step for addicts is to maintain a motivated way of thinking once you start feeling good about yourself from making amends. I believe 12-step sober support groups can be extremely beneficial to the person attempting abstinence. The premise is that one addict can best help another and that by helping another you actually help yourself. AA is a fundamental example of how groups support sobriety in individuals as long as they are willing to follow a program and commit to changing their habits.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
Challenges in the implementation of recovery-oriented mental health policies and services. International Journal of Mental Health, 42(2/3), 17-42.
However, recovery is based on core aspects such as hope and meaning whereby an individual tries to overcome discrimination, stigma and trauma attributed to the diagnosis of a mental illness. Also, it requires a person to assume the control over his or her life and empowered to make his or her own decision in full engagement. There are two types of recovery, i.e. clinical recovery and personal recovery. Therefore, it is vital for an individual to have a clear understanding of the two as well as identify the differences since recovery is considered to have a medical meaning. According to Rethinks, clinical recovery is a treatment outcome emerged from the designated experts of mental health professionals which encompasses the restoration of social functioning and getting rid of symptoms, hence making an individual to get back to normal. (Unger,
Despite how hard one works to overcome a substance addiction or those who have even mastered their sobriety; a negative stigma generally haunts them throughout their life. For individuals coping with addiction and the day to day difficulties, which addiction presents, they often feel many negative sentiments from society. Together with the task of managing their symptoms, low self esteem, a fear of relapse, depression and the negative stigma from the general public can only be seen as a bleak road to recovery.
Dr. Hart argues that social support systems shape how a person deals with their addiction. He brings in the story
Substance addiction is becoming an epidemic. While some people can quit using a substance without any help, most people need help to their recovery. Narcotics anonymous is an important support group for our society. There are many different narcotic anonymous programs to join that have meetings throughout the week. The members of the support group all share one thing in common, they suffer from different types of chemical dependency. Members help each other because they have the same problems and worries that everyone in the room has. Though they may be struggling with different stages in their life, for the most part, they all relate to what each is going through. Just as AA, NA focuses on the 12-step program. The members of
When looking at the recovery model from a psychiatric rehabilitation perspective, there are a number of characteristics of the recovery process that have been suggested, which include: it is possible for recovery to occur without professional intervention, however this then requires people who believe in and stand by the person in recovery; it does not include dependence on believing specific theories about the cause of the circumstance; it can occur even if symptoms happen to re-occur, but this does not affect the frequency and duration of these symp...
Main Point: The effects on a person after they become addicted to something can be small, or they can be great, depending on the length of time they are exposed to the addictive behavior or substance and what caused it. The addiction affects the addict’s health, career and relationships. I can tell you from personal experience with having family members who were addicts, that I was traumatized growing up. (Personal story about couple arguing here.) According to Roxanne Edwards of Medicine.net, “In terms of effects on the body, intoxication with a substance can cause physical effects that range from marked sleepiness and slowed breathing …to the rapid heart rate...” In addition, psychologically they can have suicidal thoughts or elation depending on the addictive substance or behavior. This is why it is important for the addict to seek help because they cannot get rid of the issue on their own. Most of the time, addicts go through some sort of rehab treatment and when they are released they are instructed to go to meetings that help with the aftermath of addiction. Just a few of these groups are places like Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, or even Celebrate Recovery. Although some places believe that these programs do not work, it is well worth mentioning that the success rates depend on the want to of the person working them. They have to want to remain sober or free from the addiction or they will go right back to it. Alcohol Rehab.com puts it this way, “Failure to
One thing I have learned is that no road to recovery is wrong, and because I found recovery in the rooms does not mean that is going to be everyone’s path. I encourage every one of my clients to find that path themselves, I am armed with resources to help them but I would never push my views onto them.
In conclusion drug addiction is a very terrible and challenging problem. It affects individuals, families, and the people around them. It is important that drug addicts realize that they must want to stop and seek help for the problem. The drug addict needs the support of friends and family, so they can make it through this process. The process to recover from drug addiction can take a lifetime. There is hope for a drug addict who wants to change their life for the better.