For those who are just now entering the recovery process, you might be wondering, “What does recovery mean in addiction?” The general meaning of recovery is long-term sobriety. This means that someone stops using alcohol and substances even after treatment. However, recovery involves so much more than just abstaining from substance use. Your goals, values, and personal growth are all integral parts of recovery as well. Let’s take a look at what recovery means in treatment and how having a recovery goal can be life-changing.
Recovery is a Lifelong Journey
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that recovery isn’t as simple as being sober for a certain amount of time. While someone might be able to achieve sobriety after detox, for instance, maintaining that sobriety can take years of effort.
In fact, research shows that more than half of people entering publicly-funded addiction treatment will need to participate in multiple episodes of treatment over several years to maintain long-term sobriety. Recovery, in this sense, might include:
- Multiple inpatient or outpatient treatments
- Continuous participation in support groups or therapy
- Ongoing medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder
- Constantly working on personal growth and self-improvement
All of these efforts are part of the lifelong journey of recovery. It’s important to remember that it is a process and not something that can be achieved overnight.
Dealing With Relapse During Recovery
What does recovery mean in addiction if you’ve relapsed? It can be encouraging to know that relapsing is a common experience in recovery and does not mean failure. An astonishing 85% of people relapse within the year following treatment for alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs.
Because relapse is so common, recovery involves not only developing coping skills to prevent relapse, but also knowing how to overcome a relapse and get back on track toward long-term sobriety. Dealing with a relapse can be difficult, but it is important to remember that it does not erase the progress you have made in your recovery journey.
Recovery Also Means Celebrating Small Wins
What does recovery mean in addiction for those still in active recovery? While long-term recovery is a lifelong process, this doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate small wins in the beginning of your sobriety journey.
On the contrary, contingency management (CM) is a type of therapy that rewards positive behaviors with tangible or intangible rewards. Research has shown that those who celebrate milestones through CM in their recovery are more likely to continue abstaining from using substances than those who don’t.
There are a myriad of ways you can celebrate small wins, which is essential to recovery. These include:
- Rewarding yourself with a special dinner
- Buying a spa day or booking a massage
- Going on a weekend trip to celebrate reaching a milestone in your sobriety
- Purchasing a small token of appreciation for yourself, like a piece of jewelry or artwork
These celebrations can act as motivation and positive reinforcement to continue on the path of recovery. They can also serve as a form of self-care, which is critical during recovery.
Setting Goals During Recovery- The SMART Way
What does recovery mean in addiction if you don’t have any goals? Without goals, there really is no clear route to recovery, making it all the more difficult to achieve. This is where setting SMART goals can be useful.
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. By setting goals that follow the SMART recovery framework, you are giving yourself a clear direction and timeline to work towards long-term sobriety.
Here’s an example of how to set a SMART goal during recovery:
- Specific: “I want to attend at least five NA meetings per week.”
- Measurable: Keep track of the number of meetings attended each week.
- Achievable: Consider your schedule and make sure attending five meetings per week is feasible. If it’s not, don’t worry, simply reduce the amount of meetings you can attend per week.
- Relevant: Attending NA meetings is relevant to staying sober and maintaining recovery. However, make sure any goals you set align with your unique needs and recovery journey.
- Time-Bound: Set a specific timeframe to achieve this goal, such as within the next three months or six months. This will keep you accountable and motivated to follow through.
Setting goals is an important step in the recovery process. It gives us something tangible to work towards and provides a sense of accomplishment when we reach them. However, it’s also crucial to remember that recovery is not always a linear journey, and setbacks may occur. It’s essential to be kind to yourself and adjust your goals accordingly if needed.
Find Long-Term Recovery From Addiction
At SEE Purpose Treatment Center, our inpatient treatment center in Bloomington, IN, we understand the complex and challenging nature of addiction recovery. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized care and support to help individuals achieve long-term recovery. Whether it’s through individual therapy, group therapy, 12 step, or other evidence-based treatment methods, we are committed to helping our clients find sustainable healing and a brighter future.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, call us today to learn more about our programs and how we can support you on your journey towards long-term recovery. You are not alone, and with the right tools and support from our team, you can find your purpose and reclaim your life.
