It Takes a Village: Finding the Right Support System in Addiction Recovery

By Alexandrea Holder

When facing the often trying road of addiction recovery, having a proper support system in place can be paramount to long-term success. Through 'It Takes a Village' readers learn about the different types of people one will encounter through life, who among these characters can be trusted to form one's support network, and who should be removed from one's life for the sake of sobriety. Additionally, readers will learn how to rebuild broken relationships, use their recovery as a learning tool for others, and how to navigate the world of dating and love while staying firmly on the sober path.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harbor Village
• Release date: Jan 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524213589

Book preview

The Importance of Support

Throughout Recovery

Freeimages.com/BarryMeyer

The decision to embark on the substance abuse recovery journey is a deeply personal, transformative experience. Recovering from addiction is akin to recovering from any life-changing disease; there are trials and tribulations, setbacks, frustrations, and in the end, a physical and spiritual metamorphosis which changes you profoundly. Addiction is a difficult disease to treat and manage because it convinces those afflicted that there is no problem at all, or that the problem is a permanent part of life. Though societal views promote the idea that substance abuse is a matter of will and moral failings, the disease’s effect on the mind and body are complex and differ on an individual level. This is why the most effective treatments for substance abuse disorders are individualized rather than generalized medication and generic therapies.

No one chooses a life of addiction, though sometimes actions can make it easy to believe this particular falsehood. Substance abuse disorders are often rooted in underlying emotional trauma, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental illness, and untreated psychological problems. Though the use of illicit drugs often begins as a means of self-medication and escape, when dependency and addiction form, it only serves to compound existing issues. It is imperative to understand that the person someone is while under the influence of a diseased mind is not truly representative of who that person can and will be.

One of the most common misconceptions about recovering from addiction is that once withdrawal symptoms end, the person in recovery doesn’t experience further cravings. It leads to the stigma and shameful idea that those who do experience urges and relapse are somehow failing and weak. The reality is that cravings for a substance to which one has been addicted can manifest without warning years after a person has committed to sobriety. These cravings can very easily lead to relapse if unchecked; however, through rehabilitation people living with substance abuse disorders can learn the tools and coping mechanisms necessary to disperse the reliance on illicit substances for relief from life’s negative moments.

Sobriety after substance abuse is a battle that millions of Americans struggle with on a daily basis. One challenge people entering the detox stage of rehabilitation face is recognizing their addiction as a vice and a disease. Self-delusion and self-deception leads to a false sense of control over the abused substances. The ability to maintain employment and interpersonal relationships are often seen as proof of non-addiction, as society teaches that people suffering from substance abuse disorders are incapable of such things. The reality is that 70 percent of people suffering from addiction are employed (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2015). This statistic contradicts the societal image of people living with addiction as lazy, non-productive members of society and also reinforces the fact that addiction is a public health issue not limited to a specific niche of the community.

Eliminating the stigmas associated with substance abuse is the first step in eradicating the substance abuse epidemic impacting the United States. By increasing public understanding of the disease, more sufferers will have the resources and confidence to seek treatment and begin rebuilding their lives. As it stands, less than 14 percent of those in need of substance abuse rehabilitation receive the medical attention necessary to properly address the physical and psychological causes of addiction (Mozes). However, beyond the professional aid of trained psychiatrists, nurses, and other staff members, successful recovery depends on having a strong, reliable support system in place.

Support systems are instrumental in the success or failure of the recovery process. Though the majority of the work must come from the individual, the support and encouragement of close family members, friends, and loved ones can make all the difference.

Why is the Support System Important to Recovery?

Like with any major life undertaking, having support from the people you love can make all the difference in the world regarding the success or failure of the aspired venture.  While it is possible to succeed on one’s own, when it comes to successful rehabilitation and leading a life of sobriety, being supported and encouraged by close friends and family members can carry one through moments of darkness and vulnerability.

There is no shame in leaning on those who love you for support when you need it. The mental block of believing no one cares or that you are somehow unworthy of comforting and care is a fallacy created by past wounds and reinforced by people who were not devoted to your well-being. Don’t allow an old mindset to stand in the way of genuine love and support.