Recovery begins with HOPE.

Overcoming addiction to alcohol or other substances is challenging.

Many people make an honest effort to stop using and feel like a failure if they relapse.  After one, or sometimes many, failures to achieve and maintain sobriety, people may believe their situation is hopeless or they are destined to be addicted their entire life.  Fortunately, they are wrong.  People struggling with chronic relapse can have hope and can achieve long-term sobriety.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes the importance that people with addiction understand they can recover their health and well-being.  The organization also recognizes hope as the very foundation where recovery begins.

SAMHSA lists the following four major dimensions that support recovery:

• Health—overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms and making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being.
• Home—having a stable and safe place to live.
• Purpose—conducting meaningful daily activities and having the independence, income, and resources to participate in society.
• Community—having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Each of those four components work together toward successful recovery.

Health.

The first, health, is commonly compromised during active addiction.  People neglect their health as addiction becomes the most important thing in their life.  Food and nutrition take the back seat to the need to maintain a supply of their substance of choice.  Many avoid medical care and needed dental procedures.  When recovery begins, so does recognition of the importance of making better choices for their overall health, especially when encouraged by those people supporting their recovery.

Home.

Next is home.  A safe, secure and stable home is taken for granted by many people, but it is not available for everyone.  Sometimes people in recovery have alienated family members during their active addiction and are no longer welcome.  Or the person who is in recovery may have left a home where others are actively using substances making it an unsafe environment to return.  Finding a quality half-way house is sometimes an option worth considering.

Purpose.

Purpose helps those in recovery regain their self-confidence and pride. Part of the purpose is redefining themselves and beginning to understand who they are without the addiction.  They begin to discover that life can be fun and rewarding without the use of substances.

Community.

The last dimension is community.  Usually, during addiction relationships that were once important are neglected or even destroyed.  Trust with loved ones is repeatedly broken during active addiction and rebuilding trust is a slow process as loved ones need “proof” that recovery is real. Distancing from friends who are also addicted or may have been supplying substances is vital, as is building a new network of friends who support the recovery process.

WebMD also recognizes the importance of hope for those in recovery.

Spirituality.

They add meditation and spirituality as key components to promote successful recovery. Exploring various options for both meditation and spirituality may be the way for an individual to find the best fit for their comfort level as well as for their belief system.

Gulf Breeze Recovery recognizes the important role that hope plays in long term recovery.

All these components are included not only in their treatment program, but also in the “Blueprint for Success” which outlines the guest’s “life plan” and aftercare.

If you or someone you care about, has an ongoing history of substance use and relapse, we offer hope and we can help. Contact us at Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about our program that has helped so many people overcome their addiction and embrace life.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!