Many people balk at recovery because they are unsure of the “steps” that they need to take to get well. This is where the Twelve Steps of recovery can come in and literally be life-saving. Regardless of which path one takes, the key is to find what works and stick to it. Recovery is a way of life, and it is one that should not be missed.
Better Understanding Addiction
Millions of people struggle with addiction every year. Many people don’t realize just how prevalent addiction is in both the U.S. and around the world. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”
Also, many people don’t realize that addiction is a “disease.” Many people are under the misconception that addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is a fallacy. Addiction has more in common with chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than it does with a “choice.”
It is also important to remember that addiction is also a “family disease.” This is because addiction does not just affect the individual struggling but also affects almost everyone it comes into contact with. It is often said in 12-Step recovery that addiction is like a tornado that destroys everything and everyone in its path. This is especially true with addiction and co-occurring issues of mental health.
Better Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders are much more prevalent than many people may think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders… Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”
Many people who struggle with co-occurring disorders also go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because either the addiction or the mental illness overshadows the other. This is why going to a professional that deals with both addiction and mental illness can be so critical. It is also extremely helpful for individuals to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of addiction and mental illness on their own. This ability can mean the difference between life and death.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, it is important to understand that the signs and symptoms of addiction and mental illness are going to vary somewhat based on the situation and the individual. However, there are some more universal signs that can be looked out for. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness (depression)
- Not being able to stop drinking or using once started
- Using multiple substances at the same time
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Struggling with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Loss of appetite
- No longer caring about appearance or personal hygiene
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Committing self-harm or harming others
- Having suicidal ideations
Unfortunately, people often minimize the signs and symptoms of addiction and mental illness. However, as one can see, these symptoms can be extremely serious. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as signs appear is so critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. Again, as previously mentioned, it can be life and death. The Twelve Steps can help with this.
Better Understanding 12-Step Recovery
Roughly 89 years ago, two individuals struggling with addiction got together and determined that the only way they were going to get sober and stay sober was by doing two things. One thing was to work with others struggling with addiction. Two was to accept a “Higher Power” (of their own understanding) greater than themselves.
These two individuals were Bill Wilson and Robert Holbrook Smith, the two co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and 12-Step recovery. Eventually, they would also write the Twelve Steps of recovery and publish its primary text (commonly referred to as the Big Book). The Twelve Steps have gone on to help millions of people beyond those struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). These steps are also used in such programs as Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.), Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.), Gamblers Anonymous (G.A.), and Alanon (a program for families affected by addiction).
What Exactly Are the Twelve Steps?
The Twelve Steps are a set of twelve principles that can be utilized to get sober and stay sober. They work as a system that builds upon one another until all of the steps are completed.
However, after the steps are completed, there is no “graduation.” The steps are then continually used to have a safe and healthy long-term recovery. This is important because many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse currently is in the U.S.
Relapse affects millions of people every year. According to the peer-reviewed Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment. For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” To avoid a relapse by utilizing the Twelve Steps, one must first take that first step and admit that there is a problem.
The Twelve Steps: Admitting There Is a Problem
Now, the First Step of 12-Step recovery states, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.” This act of “admitting” is critical for recovery. It is the only way that one is going to accept the help that they need.
Now, that does not mean that one might not admit this reality right away. This is why it can be so important for the family to intervene and help get them the treatment that they need. Also, this means setting boundaries which can help them make the choice to get the help they need, such as going to day treatment. In day treatment, one can then find the “acceptance” that they need for recovery.
The Twelve Steps: Acceptance
Next, the Second Step of 12-Step recovery states, “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” In order to truly take this step, one must accept that they have a problem.
Once this acceptance occurs, an individual can then begin to believe that there is something out there that is ready and willing to help them recover. Now, this may be a Higher Power such as God or a religious figure, or it might be something like nature or even other people who have been successful in recovery.
It should be noted that many people avoid the Twelve Steps because they struggle with the “God” concept. However, it is important to remember that a Higher Power is about spirituality and not necessarily religion (unless that is the path that one wishes to take). Once one gets over this issue with a Higher Power, they most likely have taken on the willingness that is needed to continue with the Twelve Steps and successful recovery.
The Twelve Steps: Willingness
There is perhaps no bigger sign of willingness than when one is willing to complete the Ninth Step. The Ninth Step states, “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Now, the Ninth Step is all about humility and being able to admit one’s wrongs to others. However, it is not merely about saying sorry. It is also about making “living amends” by showing loved ones that a new life in sobriety is all about making the right choices and helping others. This is especially true when it comes to helping others with their recovery.
The Twelve Steps: Working With Others
Working with others is an essential component of a strong long-term recovery. Working with others is so crucial that it even has a chapter named after it in the Big Book.
The chapter “Working With Others” states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.” Many of these connections and friendships are made in recovery environments like day treatment.
The Twelve Steps and Day Treatment
Day treatment is an ideal environment for recovery. This is especially true for individuals who are able to keep one foot in their everyday lives as they also focus on their recovery.
However, many people minimize day treatment because they feel it may not be as effective as residential addiction care. This is simply untrue. Day treatment can be just as intensive, requiring eight-hour days, five days a week. This type of treatment also keeps people accountable by having regular alcohol and drug testing. Day treatment also uses all of the same means, methods, and modalities that are used in other types of treatment programs.
The Twelve Steps and Other Means, Methods, and Modalities
Now, the fact of the matter is that the treatment industry is now worth billions of dollars. Of course, this is good because there are more treatment centers available. Unfortunately, this also means that there are many bad actors who are more concerned with their bottom line than their client’s well-being. These are also the type of treatment centers that only offer overarching “one-note” recovery plans.
This is not the case at NorthStar Recovery Center. At NorthStar Recovery, we believe in the multi-angled approach that utilizes all areas of recovery. This includes modalities in the realm of experiential therapy like nature immersion therapy and art therapy, holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation, and psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Healing With Psychotherapy
Psychotherapies like CBT and DBT are ideal for recovery because they get to the underlying issues that often cause addiction and mental illness. Many people don’t realize that addiction is more about the thoughts behind taking the drink or the drug than it is about the drink or the drug themselves.
CBT and DBT can be so effective because they help to make an individual an “active participant” in their recovery. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns… Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”
Healing With Experiential Therapy
Many types of experiential therapy can help to bolster one’s experience with the Twelve Steps. This includes the way that nature immersion therapy helps individuals connect with their Higher Power.
Of course, nature immersion therapy also offers many other types of benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning.” Also, “While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship; also known as connectedness to nature (CN).” This ”CN” can also be found with holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation.
Healing With Holistic Healing Methods
The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar once said, “Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Originally yoga was just used as a religious or spiritual practice, but it has since moved into the realm of recovery.
Yoga can help one find the serenity needed to practice the Twelve Steps. It also offers many other benefits. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering,g or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.” It also offers a great space for meditation.
A Focus on Long-Term Success With NorthStar Recovery Center
Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future. They also offer a great opportunity to incorporate the Twelve Steps.
In many 12-Step recovery meetings, they say what is known as the “Responsibility Statement.” It goes, “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of [recovery] always to be there. And for that I am responsible” This is also a cornerstone of what we believe at NorthStar Recovery Center. Yes, we are responsible, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Many people don’t realize the benefits that the Twelve Steps can have for someone recovering in day treatment. Also, these steps are most effective when used with other types of treatment modalities. Additionally, working with others can be a critical component of a successful recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about utilizing the Twelve Steps for long-term success, please reach out to NorthStar Recovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.