The 6 Stages of Addiction Recovery

‘One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovering,’ this is a beautiful quote by Demi Lovato. A person going through addiction sometimes does not even recognize it. So, you can guess the percentage of people who take treatment with the help of detox.

Addiction feels like something similar to living in hell but getting the feeling of being in heaven. However, if you or anyone around you is going through something similar, then do not worry. A large number of people recover from it with efficient treatment.

This article will teach you about addiction, facts related to it, and the stages of addiction recovery.

What is Addiction?

Most people casually use the word addiction without understanding its true essence. For example, if you love to eat strawberries and eat them regularly, it does not signify that you are addicted to them.

However, if you are so attracted to strawberries that you become mentally unstable if you do not eat them for a day, then you are addicted to them. It was a loose example.

Addiction is a state of mind that pushes a person to repeat a particular behavior or use a substance continuously despite facing harmful consequences. It usually affects the person at a root level and destroys their relations, marriages, and careers.

There are thousands of people who are addicted to food, drink, drugs, other substances, and even prescription medicines, the recent Fentanyl Epidemic being an example of this. Many addicts avoid taking the help of detox services for differing reasons, such as fear or pressure. The level and losses incurred from addiction vary significantly as it often depends on the nature of the addiction itself.

For example, a person with an addiction to ice might not suffer as much as one with a serious drug addiction. The subsequent paragraph hints at how immense the addiction problem is.

Are Humans Living In An Addicted Society?

Here are some facts related to addiction that could blow your mind.

• According to the addiction center, every year, addiction has an enormous impact on thousands of Americans and claims thousands of lives.
• Between the years 1990 to 2017, almost seven hundred thousand of Americans lost their life from overdosing on a drug.
• Only in the year 2017, the number of Americans committing the offense of driving under the influence reached 32.2 Million. Among them, the number of drug-influenced people was 12.8 Million, and Alcohol influenced the rest, 21.4 Million.
• Carefully observing people with anxiety and depression revealed that almost 20% of such people also suffer from any substance use disorder.
• The addiction center revealed a surprising fact. More than 90% of citizens with drug or alcohol addiction start their intake before turning 18.
• Alcohol is responsible for 1 in every 20 deaths, or 5.3% of total deaths worldwide every year.
• The number of people worldwide who suffer from Alcohol disorder is 300 Million.

These data show the enormous loss of life people face because of addiction. However, with the support of detox services, you can regain control of your life.

Stages of Addiction Recovery

Here are the six stages of addiction recovery:

Pre-contemplation

The first stage involves denial. The addicted person denies that their addiction is a matter of concern. Generally, in this stage, they do not face any adverse consequences of their addiction. Thus, they refuse to agree with it.

There are four types of pre-contemplation :

Reluctant Pre-contemplation

In this situation, the person is unaware of their situation and lacks the motivation to change.

Rebellious Pre-contemplation

Their behavior is rebellious when someone advises them to let go of their addiction.

Resigned Pre-contemplation

Such people are attached to their addiction beyond the possibility of change.

Rationalizing Pre-contemplation

They have all the excuses and reasons to justify their addiction.

These are the four key ways people deny their addiction.

Contemplation

The second stage involves the realization of their addiction. However, the person is still not ready to change it. They are only thinking of it.

Therefore, they do not make a strategy and work accordingly. Instead, they spend most of their time searching for more and more information regarding their addiction.

This stage could last for months or even years. After that, people might return to pre-contemplation or move to the next step.

Planning

Now, people are ready to make a strategy and work on it. They might need help from a friend or a professional.

Most people prefer meeting the latter as it helps them in a better way.

Action

It is the stage of change. After making a strategy with the help of a professional, people now begin to apply it. You can observe a difference in their behavior.

Most people face this stage in rehabilitation or detox centers. Here, they are further guided by medical professionals to the next step.

Also, people learn things related to their addiction. Group therapies help them to understand it and themselves in a better way.

Moreover, family therapy for drug and alcohol addiction is another vital component, helping both the individual and their loved ones navigate the complexities of recovery together. This stage also implants the strategies to cope-up stress and anxiety. It helps them to go through the next step without experiencing failure.

Maintenance

It requires effort and determination to sustain a change. In this stage, the person adapts to the new substance-free environment.

With time, the probability of returning to their old lifestyle decreases.

Addiction is a chronic disease. Thus, the probability of relapse is always there. However, it does not signify failure. It only means that the person requires extra attention and treatment.

Termination

The final stage involves a confident life without substance use. Here, the person starts feeling comfortable with their new lifestyle. It's a stage my mother never reached before she passed away at 50 years old.

Also, the risk of relapse goes down day by day. It is the ultimate goal of addiction recovery. So, these are the stages a person goes through in addiction recovery.

Conclusion

Addiction recovery is not easy, but with motivation and guidance, a person can overcome it. Most of the time, a person moves in a particular order in these stages.

Also, it is common to shift backward, forward, and stay in more than one stage at a time. However, the knowledge and visualization of the cycle will help to make the process simpler and more managed.

Can you answer the question, what are the phases of recovery?