14 Recovery Paths
We know some of the traditional paths to recovery. However, we talk less about other paths people can take to sobriety. Some often get lost when they fail at the traditional paths. Some of those paths are explored in this article.
Your path to recovery should always be yours. You will never fail at recovery if one path isn’t for you. You might reassess to figure out which path is for you.
Traditional Paths
12 Step Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are the OGs on the recovery block. When people were locked up into asylums for treatment for alcoholism and addiction, these groups were the radical change needed. Originally, they were the alternative to treatment. My, how far they have come.
Twelve-step groups help several people every day. AA has over 200,000 groups worldwide. They have a lot to offer. Twelve-step groups are a free resource for getting sober.
It’s a fellowship of people choosing to identify as alcoholic or addicts. There are several groups depending on your addiction. Its premise is to help each other get sober.
Newly sober individuals can get individual help through sponsors who take them through the 12 steps. They are available when it’s a struggle in early recovery. The 12 steps help to individuals move from addiction to early recovery into late recovery.
The 12 steps help individuals come to terms with their addiction and teach how to call on help from others. They have individuals take inventory of how their addiction impacted their lives and the lives of others. The 12 steps have individuals recognize their character defects in order to overcome them. It focuses on making amends to those wronged, continuing to make changes, and seeking a spiritual connection. All culminating in giving back and helping others.
Treatment
As discussed earlier, treatment for addiction had a rough start. Treatment has come a long way. There are so many options for treatment that vary for each individual and based on the severity of their addiction, often determined by an assessment.
For some, detox and residential stays may be necessary. Some states have day treatment options. Intensive outpatient programs are often 9 or more hours of treatment per week. Then there are multiple options for outpatient services from agency programs of 8 or fewer hours of treatment to private practice clinicians.
Church
Many churches either host Celebrate Recovery (12 step faith-based group) or have groups specific for those struggling with addictions. Clergy can also provide individual services. Attending church services themselves or activities with the church is a recovery path for some as well.
Sober Living
Recovery housing such as Oxford Houses has also been a part of recovery paths. Most also use 12 steps as a part of house requirements. It also creates a community within the house and other Oxford House communities. Some areas have sober communities or apartments that offer alternatives to sober living homes.
Alterative Paths
Alternative 12 Step Based Groups
Alternative groups took some premises and built on it to create alternative 12 step-based groups similar to Celebrate Recovery discussed above. SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, Native American Groups such as White Bison and Wellbriety, and others allow others to find communities that are still within the addiction recovery community.
Medicated Assisted Therapy
While medicated assisted therapy has been around since the 1980s, there was still a lot of stigmata and shame associated with getting help through this path. The opiate epidemic has given way to more treatment options. More open-minded movements regarding medicated assisted therapy have helped to de-stigmatize it, but there is still more growth needed.
Natural Recovery
This path is often scoffed by most. This is the bigfoot of the recovery world. Natural recovery is where people find recovery on their own without treatment or groups.
Peer Support Organizations/Drop-In Centers
So many organizations are popping up where people in recovery can hang out. They offer meetings, groups, and fun social activities. These are peer ran by those in recovery.
Recovery Schools
There has been a growing need for recovery schools, especially with the rise in adolescents with addiction. Recovery High schools allow teens to get treatment while still enjoying a high school environment. Not to mention it’s a sober environment with fewer triggers, setting them up for success.
Recovery colleges are also growing options for people in recovery. Colleges are triggering for those in recovery, as drinking and partying are the culture of college kids. Sober colleges provide a safe environment.
Pro-social activities
Too often we overlook recovery efforts of pro-social activities. Having a community is an important part of recovery than can be found in sports leagues, book clubs, or hobbies. We often negate these experiences or take them for granted as having healing opportunities for those in recovery.
Holistic Approaches
Yoga, mindfulness, acupuncture, and other approaches lead to holistic wellness healing. These approaches allow for whole body approaches to healing.
Psychedelics are also gaining interest in exploring their healing properties for addiction, while it might be controversial for some professionals.
Self-Help
Some find comfort in other self-help groups for mental health issues, grief, or trauma. There are individuals whose addiction was self-medicating other issues. As they heal those issues, their path of recovery begins.
Recovery Coaches
Life and recovery coaches are a popular approach. They provide additional help in areas that therapist cannot be based on ethical principles. Some coaches even live with recovery persons to help fight triggers they face in everyday life.
It’s important to find someone with formal trainings and coach certifications as anyone could claim to be a coach which can be very harmful.
Create Your Own Destiny
The last option is forging your own path. It could have a Hodge Podge of the recovery paths listed above or just trying all of them until you find the right one for you.
The important factor is just finding the right one to keep you sober and on the path of recovery. Find your safe healing route to your destination of recovery.
When You’re Unsure
Explore the number of options with a therapist. They can also be a secure base when things don’t quite work out because they won’t judge your choices.
Making recovery your choice is the best way to gain it. When it’s forced, it doesn’t have the empowering force that it does when you can pick your own recovery path.
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Disclaimer: This is in no way a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or substance abuse/mental health services. This is for educational purposes only and should be in used only in conjunction in working with a licensed mental health professional. Reading this blog or responding to it does not constitute a provider-patient relationship. If you are looking for a local mental health professional feel free to use the contact tab to request an appointment or search Mental Health Match, Therapy Den, or Psychology Today for local therapists in your area. If this is a mental health or substance abuse emergency and you need immediate assistance, please call 911, call 988, go to your local ER, visit your local detox center, or call 211 if you are in Oklahoma.