What is Recovery?

What is Recovery?

What is Recovery?

Recovery is a process. It’s not focusing on what you can’t have, but how you can better yourself. I’ve heard people comment on how strange it is that someone is always “in recovery,” and never “recovered.” Recovery is a life-long process that encourages you to grow, discover who you are, and what you feel without drugs or alcohol influencing that. With the prevalence of research into substance abuse, the focus of recovery has changed. Researchers have found that recovery is more successful with long-term support and recognition of the many pathways to wellness and health.

It’s so much more than sobriety. Recovery isn’t as simple as abstaining from drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Because substance abuse disorder is complex, recovery is complex as well. Because research on recovery and substance abuse disorder is so new, we don’t have all the answers or solutions. It is believed there are many ways to treat substance abuse disorder. Because everyone is different, there are no exact solutions. While some people swear by Alcoholics Anonymous, spirituality, or religious-based programs, others can be in recovery and use medically assisted treatment like Methadone or Suboxone.


The importance of healing the whole person

Recovery isn’t a simple thing, and it’s worth repeating. It’s a complex solution to a deadly issue. With recovery, it’s important to go deeper than the surface. There are many levels that need to be addressed to truly be in recovery.

For this reason, the whole-person approach to healing is now widely recognized as the most effective means of helping those with substance abuse disorder reach recovery. The whole-person approach to healing integrates all aspects of the individual’s life:

      • Emotional well-being
      • Physical health
      • Spiritual peace
      • Relational happiness
      • Intellectual growth
      • Nutritional vitality

Getting back to recovery after relapse

Recovery isn’t a “one and done” deal. There are good days, and there are bad days. At the beginning, it’s easy to slip back into harmful habits. Unfortunately, relapse is common and preventable. If you do make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure, but it is important to get back into your recovery. After relapse, it’s easy to feel ashamed. The worst thing you can do, is isolate yourself. Seek out a supportive environment. Talk to people who have been in your shoes. They can offer you the advice, coping tools, and encouragement that will help you succeed.


If you’re looking to grow in your recovery, there are tons of resources out there! Sober houses, like the ones on Sober Space, each offer something unique. Take a look at our map and get connected with someone near you! If you are interested in giving back to the recovery community and would like to open a sober house, give our friends Vanderburgh Communities a call.

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