What Recovery From Substance Abuse Really Means

Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jose Toledo

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Everyone’s idea of recovery is different.

At its core, recovery is living without dependency on drugs or alcohol. In reality, it’s so much more than that. 

Sobriety is only one part of true recovery. Real recovery also helps people heal from mental health issues, find freedom in their identities, learn to love and accept themselves, and live purpose-driven lives. 

Sobriety can be achieved in months, but many people agree that recovery is a lifelong journey.

Your lifetime of healing, mental health, well-being, and care can start with the right treatment. 

But first, you have to look deeper, and understand what recovery really means to you.

What is recovery, really?

Recovery can be described as a state of improved mental, physical, and psychological well-being after a substance use disorder (SUD). Someone with a substance use disorder can suffer for months or years, and many attempt recovery multiple times before finding lasting success.

For some, recovery may be learning to drink in moderation rather than total abstinence. For someone else, it might be eliminating substances from their lives and learning how to thrive despite their mental health struggles. 

Recovery is a journey. It has ups and downs, which are all part of the process. However, with the right support and treatment plan, someone can build a recovery plan that feels achievable and personal.

How do you recover from substance abuse? 

Education is the first step toward healing. Before someone can begin to conquer their problems, they have to understand them from a basic level.

Living with a substance use disorder can distort someone’s perception. Their life is centered around abusing, escaping emotions, and numbing themselves. They use drugs or alcohol to meet needs they may not even know how to explain. 

So, learning about substance abuse, the signs of addiction, and its common causes can help guide someone toward treatment. 

Recovery requires a commitment to treatment as well. It is more than just alleviating a chemical dependency and treating underlying mental health disorders.

Real recovery is a complete lifestyle change that requires a person to commit themselves 100% to change. 

Everyone’s pathway to recovery is different. Some benefit from treatment programs such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) while others use the 12-step program.

Holistic therapies, like yoga and energy work, also aid many on their journey toward sobriety and healing. 

Your recovery should support you, the individual, in your unique healing journey. 

It is often said that being in recovery requires being selfish, and this is true. But rather than seeing yourself as selfish for putting your needs before others, you should see it as self-prioritization.

You are not saying other people do not matter by choosing to put your recovery above everything else.

You are saying that you matter and that you care enough about your life to put it first while you get the help you deserve. 

What are the treatment options for substance abuse? 

There are many types of rehabilitation programs available for all types of addictions. At Tikvah Lake, we specialize in providing a number of evidence-based therapies in a luxury, resort-style center

We work with you to design an individualized treatment plan based on your needs. If you have a co-occurring mental health disorder, then we incorporate your dual diagnosis into your treatment.

Full healing and recovery come from treating the entire person, not just the addiction. 

Education also helps you become a better advocate for your treatment. By knowing what types of therapies are available, you can be an active part of your recovery journey.

Being an active part of your recovery also helps you know yourself better. The therapeutic journey is often full of discovery; it’s important to be surrounded by a team who encourages you to embrace what you learn about yourself and incorporate it into treatment.

This allows you to build from new skills and develop confidence as you progress through treatment. Instead of feeling like an uphill battle, you gradually gain strength and new abilities to cope with all the challenges of addiction and recovery. 

Below are some of the most common types of therapy we use to treat substance abuse and mental health disorders here. 

Detox Management

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Detox is the first step of recovery. It comes before you receive any type of therapy or formal treatment.

Detox is when you allow the last traces of a substance to leave your body, so you can have sober physiology as you heal.

Helping the body restore its natural balance after months or years of drug/alcohol abuse is crucial to long-term health and wellness. 

But detox can be difficult and painful; for those with severe substance dependencies, it can even be life-threatening.

Working with a professional team to manage your detox can alleviate physical and mental symptoms while preparing you to transition into a rehab program.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Tikvah Recovery CBT

CBT is the leading treatment for many mental health disorders, including substance abuse. The crux of CBT is understanding that thoughts influence feelings, which influence behavior.

By recognizing unhelpful or harmful thoughts, people can change their response to them and, in turn, alter their behavior for more positive outcomes.

CBT inspires you to become the most confident, empowered version of yourself. You learn to make choices for reasons that span beyond impulsive emotions or difficult thoughts. 

You also gain a deeper awareness of how your thoughts may be fueling unhelpful patterns in your life, including substance abuse. 

Residential Treatment

Tikvah Recovery Facility

Staying at a rehabilitation center can give you the time and resources you need to focus on the earliest stages of recovery.

Also called inpatient treatment, residential programs allow you to live on campus and access a number of amenities while you go through therapy. 

We offer 30 to 90-day residential programs that incorporate CBT, individual and group therapy, AA/NA therapy (the 12-step model), and a number of holistic therapies. 

Residential treatment is valuable in that it provides people with a dedicated space to work on their mental health without distraction. They are also given the space they likely need from their environment. 

Before returning home or transitioning to a sober living facility, guests get to build coping skills and develop relapse prevention plans to empower them in their sobriety. 

You Write Your Own Recovery Story – Ready to Start?

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At Tikvah Lake, we are always here to help you on your path toward sobriety and lighter living.

We encourage you to reach out to us anytime if you are interested in learning more about addiction treatment, mental health therapy, and our recovery programs.

If you decide to join us, we would love to help you step into this new chapter of your life. We are available 24/7 at 833-784-6689 . We look forward to speaking with you.

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