The 4 Stages Of Addiction Recovery

If you suffer from addiction, one of the hardest things to do is admit you have a problem. This is usually followed by another difficult step: getting the right treatment. However, finding treatment for addiction recovery in South Florida will set you on your journey to sobriety. You will take this journey in stages, known as the four stages of recovery. These are:

• Treatment initiation
• Early abstinence
• Maintaining abstinence
• Advanced recovery

The four stages of addiction were created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). When you become a patient at The Sands Treatment Center you, too, will go through these stages. Everyone handles it in their own way, so it won’t look the same as the other patients around you. Each stage will bring you one step closer to a healthy life.

Treatment Initiation

The first stage is to admit yourself into a rehab program. When you contact our drug treatment center in South Florida, you are beginning the first stage. During this time, it is normal to have feelings of doubt. You may ask yourself if you really need to be here, and whether the problem is as serious as you initially thought. This is called denial. These feelings can be very detrimental if you allow yourself to give in to them. Our professional staff will work with you to get rid of these feelings and recognize the difficult truth of your situation. Only then will you have an open mind to complete the work that is necessary to get better.

Early Abstinence

During early abstinence, you will undergo a medically supervised detox. This will be the hardest stage physically, as it involves unpleasant and sometimes dangerous ailments from withdrawal. Don’t be alarmed. Our staff will be there to ensure your detox goes smoothly and will be available for unexpected complications.  

Early abstinence may also include emotional distress because you will have moments when you crave the substance your body has become accustomed to. This is a difficult part of the stage once you have completed your detox, but you will get through it. During early abstinence, you will learn many skills and techniques to navigate life outside of The Sands Treatment Center. You will learn what your triggers are and how to avoid them. You will discover the importance of therapy and having a supportive group around. You will learn healthy activities to pursue rather than go back to your old habits.

These coping skills will help you overcome obstacles to living a healthy life outside of rehab.

Maintaining Abstinence

The third stage comes after you have completed your treatment with us. The program may be over, but we encourage you to stay connected with our team and the other patients you met while you were in rehab. You should continue the remaining steps in the 12 step program, such as making amends to the people you wronged in the past, self-evaluation, and meditation. We invite you to pursue our holistic cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), where you will address your life in its entirety, such as your career, family, and spiritual aspects.

We also encourage you to join a support group or group therapy because it is important to stay connected with individuals who have similar experiences.

Advanced Recovery

Several years into your abstinence, you will reach stage four. Advanced recovery means that you have applied the coping skills you learned to abstain from drugs and/or alcohol over the years and you now live a life of sobriety. During the fourth and final stage, you have become a productive member of society. You will have a job and healthy relationships. You may even be giving back to your community, or have become a sponsor, teaching someone else how to be sober.

We are confident that you will reach stage four and beyond. It takes hard work and motivation, but you won’t be alone. Our center is equipped with knowledgeable professionals who will support you throughout all stages. If you’re ready to get help, contact us to begin your addiction recovery in South Florida. Call (844)200-2509 to get started.