It is important to remember that recovery and treatment are “We” programs, never “Me” programs. Recovery always works best when the help of others is present. This is also why having a recovery manager matters. They can help us through the hard times and keep us on track for a healthy and successful long-term recovery.
Better Understanding Addiction
Addiction affects millions of people every day. This is true both in the U.S. and around the globe. Many people also still stigmatize addiction as some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply untrue. Addiction is a disease.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Although substance use disorders are chronic and treatable medical conditions, studies show people with these disorders still face discrimination and stigma (a set of negative attitudes and stereotypes) that can impact their health and well-being in numerous ways. This stigma also affects people who use drugs who do not have a substance use disorder…. [Also] stigma often factors into the reasons why people who need help do not seek care.”
Many addiction specialists and recovery professionals now agree that addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer than it does with having a choice. Addiction is also a “family disease,” which means that it affects far more than the individual who is struggling. We often hurt those who are closest to us. It is also these people who are often the ones who can best help us get the help that we need.
Better Understanding Addiction Recovery
The fact of the matter is that addiction recovery is now a billion-dollar industry. While this is positive in that there may be more places where people can go, it has also opened the door for many predatory recovery centers to take advantage of those struggling with addiction. These are often people more concerned with their financial bottom line than they are with their clients’ well-being.
These are also the types of recovery centers that only offer overarching “one-note” treatment plans that don’t utilize the multi-angled approach. The multi-angled approach is best because it uses many modalities from all of the various areas of recovery. This includes experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy, holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation, and psychotherapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT can be particularly beneficial for those struggling with addiction because those engaged with it must become more “active participants” in their recovery. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. To achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns…. Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”
Better Understanding Aftercare Support
CBT can also be helpful because it can be utilized after we leave treatment. This is where aftercare support also comes in.
A quality recovery or treatment center should always include comprehensive and effective addiction aftercare. This includes helping one stay engaged in their recovery modalities (like psychotherapy), as well as focusing on long-term success. Aftercare support should also include connecting individuals to a program that meets regularly.
This may include 12-Step recovery, which offers regular meetings. It is widely believed that connecting with others is one of the best ways to avoid a potential relapse. This is stated explicitly in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book). The text states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.”
Aftercare Support: Why Having a Recovery Manager Matters
A recovery manager is an individual who can make sure that we are held accountable after we leave treatment. They may look different (some may be more strict and rigid, while others may offer more flexibility), but their intentions are all the same – to keep us safe and sober.
There are many benefits to having a recovery manager. These benefits include increased accountability, reduced situational anxiety, help staying connected to treatment, and lowered chances of relapse.
A Focus on Long-Term Success With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans have aftercare worked in.
Recovery is a journey — a beautiful journey. Let us help you enjoy the ride.
Recovery is not just something that one “achieves” and then leaves. It is a lifelong process. There are also many benefits to hiring a recovery manager for that process. Recovery managers can help an individual recover to the best version of themselves, as well as avoid any potential pitfalls or relapses. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about connecting with an effective recovery manager, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
