It is worth discussing this concept again, this time viewed as a welcome contrast to the Dry Drunk Syndrome (see previous Blog).
Generally, addicts/alcoholics in good Recovery identify themselves as being “recovering”, not “recovered”. Recovery is never really completed. It is an ongoing learning process that is never perfectly attained. One can (and should) be perfectly abstinent; similarly, one can (and should) do Step 1 perfectly. But one can never do Recovery perfectly, just like one can never be expected to do Steps 2-12 perfectly.
On the other hand, when we hear that fellow addicts/alcoholics are “in and out of Recovery”, what this often means is that they are in and out of abstinence!
As stated previously in other blogs, abstinence can be achieved with Step 1 alone. Step 1, however, is only the ticket to Recovery. Step 1 is ESSENTIAL but NOT SUFFICIENT for a good Recovery. Steps 2-12 must be worked through with a sponsor in order to be in good Recovery.
Here are some of the responses from recovering addicts/alcoholics, when asked what Recovery means to them:
- It is learning to deal with emotions without the use of drugs or alcohol;
- Recovery = Spirituality;
- It is a feeling of “lightness”;
- It is feeling “at ease”;
- It is an overall “feeling of freedom”;
- It is “having more choices”;
- “It gives me balance in life”;
- “It gives me freedom from chaos and insanity”;
- It represents improvements in social relationships; “I seem to be able to pick better friends”…
This last factor (social relationships/friendships) is particularly important in establishing a solid and durable Recovery. In animal experiments, rats confined to strict isolation have been found to have consistently higher rates of cocaine use, addiction and relapse when compared to socialized rats.
Friendships, social interactions and strong family ties are all positive predictors for sustained Recovery. Vietnam vets who had been heroin users/addicts during the war were found to have a better chance at reintegrating in society and completely giving up heroin (and other drugs) IF they had a strong social support of family and friends when they returned home.
The corollary to this of course is that isolation is the enemy of Recovery.
Forced abstinence can occur in solitary confinement, but lasting Recovery can never take place in isolation.
Leave a Reply