5 Stages Of Change In Recovery

What Are The 5 Stages Of Change In Recovery

Did you know there are actual stages of change that occur in recovery? You don’t just make a decision to get sober, and you’re all set. It takes time and reminders that your addiction needs treatment and attention for the rest of your life. Don’t be scared. The recovery lifestyle is better than you think. Addition is the one chronic disease that will stay in remission as long as you work at it. We know that triggers and relapses get in the way of long term recovery success. We’re all different. People all get into addiction in different ways, and getting out of it is different for everyone, too. We also know that some people are able to take their recovery seriously, while others have problems keeping at it. There is a wide variety signs that might encourage you to acknowledge that your substance abuse has gotten out of hand. You can listen to those signs, and do the work to get well. That’s the ideal situation.

For others living in denial about the seriousness of their addiction, even when confronted with very negative outcomes, is a way of life. Even awareness is not enough to take the essential steps to get treatment and begin the healing process. People who do recover sees the signs, are aware that they need help, and take the necessary actions to locate help in centers like Ohio Recovery Centers and then continue their recovery support and maintenance.

The five stages of addiction recovery are pre contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Here’s what they look like.

Pre-contemplation Stage

People who are in the first stage of addiction recovery aren’t yet ready for any addiction treatment program. In this stage you are defensive and constantly justifying your behavior. You have no insight into the negative impact of excessive drug or alcohol use or a clear understanding or why drugs and alcohol make you think they are good for you.

You might remain in this stage because you have no information about addictive behaviors. Another reason people get stuck in the pre contemplation stage is disappointment with multiple failed attempts at recovery and treatment options. Most individuals in pre contemplation feel that recovery simply isn’t possible for them. The truth is that anyone can recover at any stage.

Contemplation Stage Of Recovery

The next phase is when you start thinking about getting sober. It’s called contemplative readiness. This means you are ready to bring about change in the future, but not immediately. Unlike the previous stage, you now have awareness of the pros of becoming sober and drug free..

However, you are still attached to your drug of choice and still acutely aware of the perceived benefits you get from alcohol or drug addiction. This is a critical stage for family members and treatment facilities because now you, while still resistant, are more likely to listen to reason. By avoiding blame, judgment and accusations, you can be guided to the next stage.

Preparation Stage Of Change

When it comes to the preparation stage, you are now building a sense of urgency regarding your need for sobriety. You or your family has done some research and have made steps toward taking action, such as intending to join a gym, seeing a counselor or attempting to quit addiction by themselves without attending a treatment center. Yes. You may think you can do this on your own.

It’s normal for people in this phase to go for a day or two without turning to drug or alcohol abuse, but it’s also perfectly usual to see people jump back to contemplation or pre-contemplation in case triggers or difficult emotions arise. You are still doing research to confirm that you need more than willpower.

Action Stage Of Change In Recovery

During the action stage of recover, you have made significant changes in your life and are committed to change. This stage of change is characterized by prolonged periods of abstinence and the inclination to turn to professionals for help before or after relapse. In this action stage you may take the rehab step or gone to detox or inpatient or out patient therapy.

It won’t just be a case of halting the destructive behavior; change will be apparent in multiple aspects of your lifestyle. If you have completed early care, you might now be doing self-care and self-understanding in your treatment stage, but counseling is still required to keep you on the right path.

Maintenance Stage Of Recovery

During the maintenance stage, preventing relapse is your biggest concern. You want to stay sober and you want to keep up the lifestyle changes you’ve made, like getting regular exercise, recreational activities, staying sober, paying attention to sleep hygiene and attending support groups. We would call the first 18 months of sobriety, early recovery. You are not there yet. Changes in brain function can take a long time to implement. This stage can last from six months to five years, depending on the severity of the addiction and the individual’s genes and experience.

It takes a small minority of people six months of abstinence to reach the point where they don’t go back to their addictive behavior. However, for most people, a commitment of two to five years is necessary to truly break the habit and solidify change and find joy and happiness in the recovery lifestyle.