When you are struggling with addiction, it might seem like sobriety is very far off, but in reality, there are five elements of recovery that are key to your recovery plan. These include acceptance of your situation, regular self-reflection on your achievements and progress, commitment to long-term sobriety, building a support group, and practicing personal growth.
5 Elements of Recovery
There are several elements that go into a successful recovery but in general, the five elements of recovery are acceptance, honesty, commitment, support, and personal growth.
#1: Acceptance
The first of the five elements of recovery is acceptance. Acceptance is often mirrored with the pre-contemplative stage of recovery where you are learning to be aware of the addiction you have and recognizing the impact it has. This type of acceptance leads you to admitting that you need help, and more importantly that that help cannot necessarily come from within you but requires other assistance from outside sources.
#2: Honesty
The second of the five elements of recovery is honesty. Honesty goes hand in hand with acceptance. Once you accept that you have a legitimate problem and it’s time to get help, you have to be honest about what type of substance abuse program you might need, the importance of choosing an inpatient or an outpatient program, and the level of integration you might require from family or friends to support you on this path.
A big part of honesty takes the form of self-reflection. When you participate in inpatient programs, you’ll be given a strict schedule to which you must adhere, and part of that schedule includes time for journaling and self-reflection. If you are participating in an outpatient program, you can schedule time for journaling and self-reflection on your own.
#3: Commitment
Next is commitment. It takes a great deal of bravery to be honest with yourself and to accept that you struggle with substance abuse. However, it also takes a great deal of commitment and determination to reach out for help, complete your recovery program, and commit yourself to long-term sobriety.
#4: Support
Support is an essential component to your recovery. Recovery is not something you can do in isolation. It’s for that reason that most people have to participate in an inpatient or an outpatient program surrounded by others, including medical professionals and individuals who have gone through similar struggles.
The support you receive needs to come from a stable system that you develop, a system of people who support your decision to remain sober and who will be there to do things like help you boost your mental health, find a community, and support you when it comes to things like attending AA or NA meetings.
#5: Personal Growth
Finally, you have personal growth. Recovery is a lifelong process, and to that end, your success in addiction recovery hinges on being able to practice self-care and grow on a regular basis.
You’ll also learn to develop unique coping mechanisms which may very well be part of your self-care routine. These coping mechanisms can help you if you are triggered in the future, and you can turn to your community if you need additional support because of triggers or relapse.
Getting Help with Sequoia Recovery
With Sequoia Recovery, our team works hard to provide clients with the resources they need during each of these five elements of recovery.
If you are working on the first element, we can discuss the key signs of addiction that you might need to confirm. From there, we can help you decide which level of care is most appropriate for your situation.
If you are working on the second element, we can help you with an inpatient program that provides time for journaling and self-reflection or teach you how to use these processes at home if you are participating in things like outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy. In fact, regular journaling is a key element of the homework you’ll be assigned with things like cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you are working on the third element, we can provide access to therapy and holistic care that helps to keep your motivation up, with educational resources on building long-term commitment to your sobriety.
If you are working on the fourth element, we can help you connect with community support groups and participate in group therapy that is most appropriate to your stage of recovery.
Finally, if you are working on the final area, we can offer resources for outpatient care and aftercare, and if you stumble and relapse, we can provide flexible programs to help you learn more coping skills and attack your personal growth with increased strength.
Overall, the five elements of recovery include acceptance, honesty, commitment, support, and personal growth. With the right type of treatment program for substance abuse you can develop the tools you need to support these elements.
Contact Sequoia Recovery today to learn more about our levels of care.