One of the most recent studies of substance abuse and addiction in America found that only about 10 percent of individuals who struggle with addiction seek treatment.
The so-called treatment gap stems from a variety of factors, including accessibility and overall desire to recover. However, one of the biggest factors that keep people from seeking treatment is the fear of judgment or failure.
Today, we’re going to talk about the benefits of sobriety and how seeking treatment can improve or strengthen the recovery process.
Read on to learn more about the ways that getting sober with the help of a treatment program can greatly improve your life.
Benefits of Sobriety
The first step toward living a sober life is recognizing that your relationship with substance use is no longer healthy or safe. The second step is deciding that you’re ready to strive for sobriety.
Taking that leap can be difficult. Recognizing the benefits of sobriety can help. If you’re on the fence about sobriety, consider the ways that sobriety can improve your life:
- Rebuilding trust and strong relationships
- Improving your physical and mental health
- Taking control of your finances
- Feeling more focused and in control of your life
- Getting better sleep and feeling more energetic
- Helping others who may need some inspiration to begin their own recovery process
These are some of the benefits that nearly everyone will enjoy when they get sober. Think about other ways that sobriety will benefit your life and write them down. Keeping your reasons in mind can help you to remain on the right track, even when things get difficult.
How Treatment Can Strengthen Your Recovery Process
Once you make the commitment to begin your recovery process, looking into treatment programs is a good step to take. Whether you choose an inpatient program or an outpatient program, the options available to you are worth it. Let’s take a look at what you’ll gain access to when signing up for a treatment program.
Safe Detoxing
When you stop using a substance that your body has developed a dependency on, it can cause temporary symptoms of withdrawal. Going through this cessation and allowing your body to eliminate one or more substances is called detoxing.
In cases of severe substance use, detoxing should be monitored by medical professionals. Going “cold turkey” may not be an option for you, which is something that doctors can navigate. You may also benefit from the use of medications during the detoxing process.
The first few days and weeks are often the hardest. Having medical supervision while you experience withdrawal symptoms will increase your chances of completing the detox. It will also increase your safety and ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Group Therapy
Most treatment programs offer regular group therapy sessions. Many individuals find that having this support during recovery is beneficial. Sometimes, knowing that you’re not alone in a feeling or experience can make a world of difference.
Group therapy can also help you to work on healthy relationship-building and accountability skills. These are skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Individual Therapy
Substance abuse and addiction are not purely physical in nature. It is a known fact that addiction often coincides with mental illnesses, and the two may work to “feed” one another.
That is why individual therapy sessions are a crucial part of the recovery process. During your treatment program, you will likely meet with a mental health professional on a regular basis.
How can this help? Your mental health professional can help you understand some of the experiences and mental health factors that may have contributed to your addiction problems. This can help you to identify the triggers in your life that may cause you to want to use a substance.
In addition, your mental health professional can help you find new coping mechanisms that are healthier and safer than substance use. Preparing for your triggers outside of your treatment program enables you to make an action plan. It gives you a safety net to fall on when real life becomes trying or painful.
Making a Transition Plan
During your recovery process, you will become familiar with the idea that recovery never really ends. When we struggle with substance abuse disorders, we must always remain vigilant and strive for sobriety.
The rate of relapse is almost always higher for people who have only recently reached a state of sobriety. That is why developing a post-treatment plan, aka a transition plan, is crucial.
As we mentioned earlier, your mental health professional will help you find the tools to navigate possible triggers. However, many individuals benefit from more thorough transition planning for the weeks and months after their treatment program ends.
Some people may benefit from continuing with an outpatient program. Others may benefit from joining a sobriety organization in their community (ie AA). Other options include continued therapy, temporary housing in a sober living home, and more.
As you can see, you have several options to choose from when putting together your transition plan. The substance abuse professionals from your treatment program are well-equipped to design a transition plan that best suits your needs. The stronger your transition plan is, the stronger your recovery process will be.
Ready For Sober Living? Give Treatment a Chance
In the years to come, we hope that more people struggling with substance abuse and addiction seek treatment. Closing the treatment gap will help more individuals get sober, stay sober, and live their best possible lives.
Looking for more ways that you can make choices that will benefit your life? Take a look at our lifestyle section, where we talk about health, fitness, and the many ways that you can boost your happiness.
