One of the reasons people in recovery are encouraged to participate in support groups and sober communities is to find people who can relate. I share a lot of common experiences with my other sober friends. We even struggle with a lot of the same things. Still, we each go about recovery differently.
Why Should Addiction Recovery Be Individualized?
The factors that cause people to become addicted are a complex interplay between genetics, environment, trauma, co-occurring mental health disorders, brain chemistry, peer influence, and a whole host of other things. This means that no other person has the exact same underlying reasons for having drank or used as you. You can’t work on someone else’s problems with your therapist and expect to make personal progress.
Just as the reasons you drank or used are unique to you, so will be your recovery. What works for one person might be detrimental to another. Part of the work in sobriety is to learn who you are without substances; an element of that is figuring out the coping skills that are most helpful to you.
What are the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Principles of Recovery?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identifies 10 guiding principles for recovery; among them are that it is person-driven, culturally-based, holistic, and occurs through many different pathways. These principles point to the importance of catering recovery to an individual’s needs.
SAMHSA says, “…individuals define their own life goals and design their unique path(s) towards those goals. Individuals optimize their autonomy and independence to the greatest extent possible by leading, controlling, and exercising choice over the services and supports that assist their recovery and resilience.”
Addiction Recovery is Highly Personal
As SAMHSA notes, identifying goals is an important part of recovery. Not only does everyone have different ways of going about recovery, but they have different reasons for getting sober. This may include the dreams they have for themselves and what they want to achieve. The way each person breaks down and realizes a goal, too, is highly personal.
Charting your path in sobriety takes time, and changes as you grow. Just as every person is different and needs different things, what works for each individual will change over time.
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is help and hope. At TruHealing Centers, our programs are highly individualized to meet the unique needs of each person who walks through our doors. To learn more, call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.