Addiction isn’t a life sentence. Everyone follows a unique path toward addiction recovery, and if you still struggle with substance use, it doesn’t mean you will struggle forever. Every emotion you feel is temporary, and when you choose to be strong and focus on long-term rewards, it will get easier and easier to weather painful setbacks.
Addiction Is Treatable
Even if you identify as an addict and plan to be in recovery for the rest of your life, you won’t necessarily have to deal with cravings or psychological turmoil forever. Addictions are completely treatable, and you have the power to overcome it.
Many 12-step recovery programs are legitimate medical treatment plans that treat addictions. Psychology Today defines addiction as a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (e.g., gambling, sex, shopping) that can be pleasurable, but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health. Oftentimes, users are not aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others.
Addiction and its consequences aren’t trivial or easy to overcome. However, receiving treatment is the only effective way to do it, and too many addicts never make that first step. But for those who do, it can be very successful. According to research that tracks individuals in treatment over extended periods, most people who begin and continue treatment stop using drugs, decrease their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social and psychological functioning. And at least one-third of alcoholics report they fully recovered with the help of treatment.
Recovery Is Always Possible
Stand on the productive side of these statistics and make a choice to start treatment or continue your recovery rather than dwell on the difficult challenges it will present. Your memories of substance abuse will last much longer than your cravings, but that can be a good thing as it helps you learn from your mistakes and move forward with your life.
Addiction isn’t an incurable or inevitable disease. If you don’t want your future to resemble your past, you must admit that addiction has ruled your life for too long and turn toward a much more reliable and benevolent authority, such as a 12-step recovery center or a health care provider who can help. Treatment begins as soon as you want it to begin, and your success rate depends on your continued commitment to recovery.