Addiction recovery is a long and complex process that requires dedication and commitment. It is important to understand the different stages of recovery in order to be successful in overcoming addiction. The Stages of Change model, developed by James Prochaska and Carlo Di Clemente in 1977, is a useful tool for understanding the different stages of recovery. This model evaluates a person's readiness to initiate recovery and provides strategies or processes of change that guide the person to take action. The five stages of addiction recovery are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance.
During the precontemplative phase, people are not considering the need for change and are therefore not interested in seeking help. At this stage, the addicted person is likely to become defensive and rationalize drug and alcohol use. When working with a person in the precontemplative stage, the recovery team helps the client move toward contemplation by helping them adjust their approach to control (i.e., be more aware of the real consequences of their addiction).The treatment team will also use motivational interviewing techniques to help the client consider the possibility of a change. During the preparation phase, people are committed to making a change.
Often, clients try to skip this stage unconsciously and take direct action; however, it is important for the treatment team to adequately support the client to prepare for action. During this stage, counselors will train the client to gather information about potential exchange options, seeking recovery supports that meet their personal interests. In a holistic treatment approach, such as the one found in Journey Pure, the treatment team will continue to support the change preparation stage once the client enters treatment, developing a personalized treatment plan for each client that best suits their individual needs. In the action stage, people believe that they have the capacity to change and are actively involved in taking recovery measures. This is the stage in which the education, coping strategies and interpersonal communication skills offered in treatment help to reinforce the client's personal recovery. The client delves into tasks, personal inventories, and relapse prevention work to ensure a successful transition from treatment to recovery.
At this stage, the addict realizes that they have a problem and may continue to abuse drugs or alcohol because they haven't yet accepted that they need to take action and that they really need help. This particular stage is a learning experience in which the addict stops denying that they have a problem and starts to want to do something about it. By itself, stage 1 does not separate a person from their substance abuse, but it is a crucial time that is crucial to starting the recovery process. Once the addict has recognized their addiction and taken more time to learn about it, it's time to start determining what their options are for getting help. This can happen in a number of ways, such as talking to friends and family who have been in your position before or doing more research online. At this stage, recovery moves from reflection, research and desire to actively embark on the path to drug elimination.
Stage 3 is when many addicts decide to visit a rehabilitation center to explore the possibility or even take the leap and enter a rehabilitation program. If the addict has not yet been admitted to a rehabilitation center, this occurs at the beginning of stage 4, which is characterized by the individual implementing their recovery plan and striving to carry it out. The first step will be to choose what type of recovery program would be best for them. There are many different options to choose from, but the most effective of these is known as inpatient care, which is when the patient resides in the center while receiving treatment. Because addiction is a chronic and progressive brain disease, there is no way to completely cure it. Instead, the most that can be done is to help a person overcome their substance abuse and provide them with the tools needed to maintain abstinence on a daily basis. Until now, the addict and staff of a rehabilitation center have been working together towards achieving this goal.
By the time stage 5 begins, the person will have made great effort towards overcoming their substance use disorder and will have received all of the tools needed for beginning recovery. To facilitate this stage, it is important that addicts have a support system not only in times of difficulty but also in times of success and in daily life. Before leaving rehab each patient should receive an aftercare plan that is conducive to their recovery efforts. This can include intensive outpatient counseling, vocational resources, family therapy and introduction into local communities in recovery such as AA or NA. This comprehensive plan is essential in Stage 5 as support from others allows individuals to maintain their recovery goals. Understanding each stage of addiction recovery can help individuals make informed decisions about their own journey towards sobriety.
