Addiction recovery is something of which to be proud. While the disease is a serious mental health disorder with no known cure, one that is responsible for taking the lives of thousands of Americans each year, through daily spiritual maintenance and a commitment to practicing the principles of recovery day in and day out—we can and do recover.
If you are an active member of a recovery program, whether you have 24-hours or 24-years of sobriety, it is important to acknowledge how crucial your recovery is and just how vital it is to stay the course. Only through recovery can true progress be achieved, whether at home, school or work.
One of the major principles of addiction recovery is humility, being humble about all that you have and all that you have accomplished. A failure to do so can often set one on a destructive course towards relapse. However, being humble does not mean that you cannot, from time to time, reflect on how far you have come and be proud of an achievement that you may have once thought to be a hopeless dream. And what better time than National Recovery Month to do so.
National Recovery Month
For the last 27 years, September has been designated as National Recovery Month. Every year at this time the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), along with countless others in the field of addiction medicine, celebrate the progress that millions of people have made through working an active program of recovery. The hope being that others who have not found sobriety, yet, will see that addiction treatment is effective and that recovery is possible.
The theme for this year is: Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery! At Family Recovery Specialists we understand how important family support can be to the recovery of a loved one. In many way, it is not just the addict or alcoholic who is in need of recovery. Years of dishonesty and painful experiences can leave spouses and/or parents at their wits end. It is for that reason that there are 12-Step programs and SMART Recovery programs for the families of people with substance use disorder. Addiction is often a family disease, that requires a family recovery.
Share Your Story Of Recovery
As these words are typed, countless people are out there living in active addiction. Even more families find themselves in the grips of despair of their loved one’s illness. But you can have a hand in helping such people begin the journey of recovery. SAMHSA is encouraging individuals in recovery and their family members to share their personal stories and successes. If you would like to empower others to seek help, you can submit your story to be shared with the world by clicking here. Perhaps you would like to attend some Recovery Month events in your area, you can find out more information by clicking here.
Please take a moment to watch Justin Riley’s story:
If you are having trouble watching, please click here.
At Family Recovery Specialist we would like to commend everyone who is actively working a program of recovery, and acknowledge the families who support their loved ones in their efforts to live a life free from drugs and alcohol.
