Ask Dr. Al: What is Recovery?

What is Recovery?

Getting and staying sober is the first priority when someone gets into recovery. But most soon learn that recovery is about so much more. Here are some basic truths about living in recovery.

Recovery is a way of life. Recovery is about building and enjoying a better life for yourself in sobriety. It’s about finding and developing loving relationships, solid friendships, strong community ties, satisfying work, and invigorating play. It’s about spending your life in good health and good spirits. It’s about living a good life steeped in the culture of recovery.

Recovery is about healing. Over time you’ll notice that your body is healing. Even  better, your brain will be healing as well. Addiction hijacked your brain, making it very hard for you to make good choices. As you focus your thoughts and actions on sobriety and recovery, your cravings will disappear and your thoughts will no longer focus solely on getting your next fix. Thinking about recovery, and building your life around it, will be your new normal.

Recovery is a process. It takes time. You can’t expect it all to happen overnight. You need to build your new life one day at a time, on top of a rock-solid foundation. That means following the Recovery Zone System, where you focus first on saving your life (Red Zone) and then on rebuilding it (Yellow Zone). Eventually, you’ll reach the point where you can celebrate your life and share the gift of recovery with others (Green Zone). For many people, the process also means sticking with a 12-step support fellowship like AA or NA. In fact, these two pathways—the Recovery Zone System and the 12-step philosophy—work hand in hand.

Recovery is one of the biggest clubs on the planet. And that means that you don’t have to do it alone. Millions of once “hopeless” alcoholics and addicts have gone down this road before you. Instead of dying of alcohol poisoning, or a car accident, or a drug overdose, they are now living happy, productive, sober lives. Many of them live in your area and are more than willing to help. They’re just waiting to welcome you.

Adapted from The Recovery Book: Answers to All Your Questions About Addiction and Alcoholism and Finding Health and Happiness in Sobriety.