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The use of the phrase "beat addiction" got me thinking and researching. Bear with me.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery, “As a process of change where individuals work to improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and reach their full potential.”
Recovery is supported by four main areas: health, home, purpose, and community.
Health involves managing symptoms and making healthy choices.
Home means having a stable and safe place to live.
Purpose includes engaging in meaningful daily activities, like work or school.
Community refers to having relationships and support systems that provide love, hope, and encouragement.
SAMHSA also outlines 10 guiding principles of recovery. Hope is the foundation of recovery. The process is person-driven, meaning individuals take the lead in shaping their own path. There are many ways to recover, and no single approach works for everyone. Recovery is holistic—it involves the whole person, including mind, body, spirit, and surroundings. Peer support, where people with similar experiences help each other, is an important part of the process. Recovery also recognizes the impact of trauma and works to address it. It focuses on individual strengths and the importance of taking responsibility. Culture plays a key role, as each person’s background, values, and traditions influence their recovery. Supportive relationships are vital, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their journey.
SAMSHA- https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep12-recdef.pdf
Notably, nowhere in this definition does it say a person will “beat” addiction. Rather, it emphasizes ongoing growth, healing, and managing life in a way that supports well-being and personal goals.
A ton of great thoughts and personal experiences have been shared, @sisyphus, @surechamp, @diverdown1, @az53, and many others on this thread. Especially for those who have shared they have long bouts of sobriety, @fletchette (30 years), @joiful (33 years), @rocksology (19 years), @dfb (4 years), @trooperdogg1960 (4 years), I'd like to ask:
What are your thoughts and experiences with the four main areas, or 10 guided principles?
Replies to "The use of the phrase "beat addiction" got me thinking and researching. Bear with me. The..."
Very thoroughly summarized, Kelsey!
And SAMSHA is a great source to find info on this area.
What I find interesting is that the 'recovery' is placed in the context of how we live our lives. Fix life and the part will get well, in fact that's what Plato seems to say.
I also remember Dr Thomas Insel, Former Director of NIMH, who talks about 3 Ps: place, people, purpose, that is a place to live, supportive human connections, and purpose in life, in his book Healing.
More importantly, two of the Ps are really free: friends and purposeful life. It's a shame that we live in a time where loneliness has become so widespread that its damage is considered comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is one area that one cannot do alone, on their own.
So WHY is finding friendships is so damn hard?
I have wrestled with this question and it seems very few have talked about shame that people feel deep down about being perceived as "friendless." No one ever wants to be SEEN that way, even with the slightest hint.
An yet it's this uneasy feeling as if everyone would know I am friendless, and so they act aloof, sinking deeper in their pain of not having rewarding, enjoyable meaningful connection. That's my reason to have failed for over a year despite focused effort to find opportunities leading to developing mutually rewarding social connections.
I believe because places like AA help provide close, safe comradeship, it spikes their healing. Strange, in life most important things are still free.
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Thank you for your knowledge and support...I'm 15 months clean after 30 + years of addiction some days are a challenge .