If you or someone you love is stuck on the roller coaster of addiction, you may think that recovery and living a happy, healthy, sober life without all of the drama is a mirage. However, more than 22 million people in the United States have made that leap from addiction to recovery…and you can too.
These stories of recovery don’t generally make the news like opioid overdoes and drug-related deaths do. However, there are millions of unique tales of former drug users and alcoholics and how they have managed to stay sober for one day, one week, one month, one year or one decade. While each journey is different, they all touch the four dimensions of recovery along the way.
What are the four dimensions of recovery?
The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as ” process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential”. They maintain that there are four dimensions necessary to support a successful recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. These are…
1. Health — You need to be in the right frame of mind to make informed, health choices about your life and to promote your own physical and emotional well being.
2. Home — Having a stable and safe place to live. Drama, physical and mental abuse and homelessness are harmful to the recovery process.
3. Purpose — Having meaningful, daily activities that give you a reason to get up in the morning. These can be hobbies, work duties, volunteer opportunities or even household chores. SAMHSA defines purpose in this context as “having the independence, income, and resources to participate in society”.
4. Community — Having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship and love. These might be family, friends, fellow church members or co-workers.
Not included in the four dimensions, but also essential for a successful recovery is HOPE. Hope makes it possible to see a place where addiction and other obstacles to your health and happiness can be overcome.
We would also add resilience to this list. Few, if any, recovery journeys are linear. Most have temporary setbacks. Being resilient makes it possible to make it through these tough times without giving up on recovery.
At America’s Rehab Campuses in Arizona, we specialize in helping drug and alcohol abusers forge their own path to recovery and a happier, healthier, more productive life. Our client-focused approach allows us to meet the unique needs of each person who comes into our care. Visit our website to learn more. Are you ready to start? We’re available when you are, 24/7.
