Over my years of counseling drug addictions I have derived what I believe to be a clear set of Stages in early Recovery, that occur for those truly making the effort to gain control of their lives once again. These Stages generally occur over the first 6 months.
These Stages are:
The 1st thing one must do to begin Recovery from Drug Addiction is to Admit that they have a Problem. Then
The 2nd thing one must do to begin Recovery from Drug Addiction is to accept that they need help ! You can't do it all on Your own! Then
The 3rd thing needed to achieve Freedom from Drug Addiction is to Accept Help, (Self Help or Professional Help) & stop using! Then
Fourth: Once One has found Acceptance of their Problem, Accepted some kind of help & has Stopped using, they must have a Support System! Then
Fifth & very essential, is to take Recovery One-Day-at-a-Time! It is a Daily battle, but Anyone can stay clean for ONE Day! Then
Sixth: After getting through A Day & continuing Daily, a Day becomes a Week & a Week becomes a Month! As you go you find that YOU Can Do It! Then
Seven: Having a Support System & having remained "Clean" for a while, You can no longer need or associate with Old People, Places & Things! You will now find that You can help others struggling to get where You now are! This is the Key to Long-Term Sobriety; Sharing It with Others!
As a counselor I have witnessed this progression time and time again as being characteristic of a successful excursion into Recovery! In my experience, Success very seldom strays far from this path, and I as well, am a Recovering Addict who traveled the path!!!
If you have an addiction and need help my resource box will give you contact info for my web site. If you feel that you may benefit from using these stages as a guideline of sorts, please contact me and let me know. I have much more info and help available to all for FREE.
David R Carroll, CADCA is a certified drug counselor. He has served as a Program Director & worked in California prisons recruiting inmates for Aftercare Treatment. He is primarily a Certified Counselor & consultant. Dave is also a recovering addict of 12 yrs & a Vietnam Vet. He was a practicing addict for over 25 years, attaining sobriety at the VA Hospital, Fresno CA, at age 45. He's now 58, & is the WebMaster of, Addiction: Why Me? @ www.mydavecarroll.com. His goal for his Recovery site is to support itself & become an Online Counseling Service. Dave is an internet contributing author of articles on Society's Drug Problem, education regarding Addiction as a treatable disease & self help concepts for Addicts & their Families. David R Carroll is also a Motivational Spearker for the addiction, treatment & Recovery field. Contact him through his Web Site; Above!
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Hi David, Thanks for writing this article. Recovery is so important. The message needs to be out there where anyone can find it. I hope to see more recovery articles by you at SearchWarp. I joined your fan club and would like to invite you to join mine.
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