You may be in treatment or considering treatment for addiction right now. You may be asking yourself, “How long does recovery from addiction take?” Recovery is more than getting clean and sober. Recovery is a lifelong journey of growth and change. When you begin your treatment, you need to accept that this is the first of many steps. Recovery does not end when you leave the treatment center; it is just one milestone on a road of many experiences.

What can you expect when you recover from addiction? What changes will you see in your life? Challenges, victories, and a lifetime of growth and satisfaction in your achievements. You just need to take that all-important first step to get started.

Treatment and Sobriety

Treatment and getting sober are often the first steps in the recovery process. Some treatment centers require that you are clean and sober to enter their facilities. Others can provide services for detox and withdrawal. Usually, however, getting sober or abstaining from your addiction will be the first step toward recovery. 

Once you begin treatment, you can learn ways to cope with daily stressors contributing to your addiction. Often, people use their addiction to avoid stress or other negative feelings. They frequently have not developed coping skills to help them deal with life outside of their addictive behaviors.

During treatment, you will learn new ways of living and be introduced to various treatment strategies to combat addiction. You may begin to develop a support system and create a plan for your recovery. You can also learn about the underlying issues that may be driving your addiction. Centers generally have aftercare planning to help you maintain your sobriety post-treatment. Relapse, however, can occur following treatment, so many centers will help you learn relapse prevention skills during treatment.

Looking at Relapse as Part of the Process

Relapse can have many negative connotations for those in recovery. They may feel like they have failed or that recovery is not possible. Reframe your way of thinking about relapse as part of the lifelong process. Many people will relapse following their treatment. Often, this is due to a lack of having an effective relapse prevention plan in place. Remember that addiction is powerful and complex in nature. There are no easy fixes.

In the lifelong journey of recovery, relapse can be a setback that can help you understand what is not working in your plan. If you experience relapse, look for its cause and learn from your mistakes. With new self-knowledge, you can move forward and develop the additional skills you need for success. Relapse may have exposed an ineffective strategy or an unplanned trigger. Learn from the experience and continue on your journey.

Life Goals and Finding Purpose

Life beyond treatment may have its ups and downs. You may experience setbacks and need additional help. It is all part of the process. 

You most likely entered treatment because you knew you needed to change your life. You can maintain this motivation throughout your lifetime in recovery. Talk with your peers about your reasons for entering treatment. Maybe your addiction cost you a job or relationship. You may have been compelled by legal issues or putting others in harm’s way. Preventing additional losses or other bad things from happening due to addiction can be a starting point for discovering what is most important to you.

Recovery is the process of living a healthy and fulfilling life. What were the things that you have lost due to your addictions? These may be the things that are important for leading your new life. You may not like the person that you were when you were addicted. Who would you like to be now? You are a blank canvas. You can start over and progress day-by-day. 

Recovery from addiction is much more than learning what not to do. Recovery is more than just staying sober or abstaining from your addiction. Recovery is about building the fulfilling and rewarding life that you deserve. You will learn a lot along the way during your treatment. You will learn new and healthy ways of living. If you are wondering how long recovery lasts, the answer is simple: recovery lasts a lifetime. Embrace the growth and change. You are about to open the door to your best life.

While in treatment, you may wonder how long you will be in recovery. Recovery is a lifelong journey of growth and change. It is common to experience some ups and downs along the way. You may relapse and require treatment again. Doing so is not a sign of weakness or failure. It is an opportunity for additional growth and improved quality of life. You can learn new skills to help you cope with daily stressors and unforeseen events. When you develop lifelong goals and live a life of purpose, your recovery becomes stronger. Be prepared to continue along the path of self-improvement while remaining clean and sober. The Kimberly Center in Ft. Myers, Florida, can help those in recovery reach new heights in their lives. We help those suffering from addiction get clean and sober and live a meaningful life. Call us today at (855) 452-3683 to get started on your journey in recovery!