Multiple Pathways to Recovery
Many Paths to Recovery
Individuals seeking recovery in Dedham, MA, understand that there is no one-size-fits-all healing method. It’s a personal journey. Every person is unique, with goals, strengths, and needs based on their background and culture. Substance abuse recovery programs should be personalized to address the unique characteristics of each individual.
Addiction touches every aspect of a person’s life. That means that treatment for that addiction should address the whole person’s needs. The treatment should be tailored to meet the medical, mental, social, occupational, family, and legal needs of each individual entering recovery.
Tailoring a recovery program to individual needs means that the treatment program should offer multiple pathways for recovery. The goal of a program with numerous pathways is to guide long-term recovery.
What Are the Many Paths to Recover?
Those who have heard of 12-step recovery programs or behavior therapies for dealing with substance abuse already know there are several ways to handle recovery programs. Many also understand that occasionally, medication is necessary for treating individuals and leading them along the path of recovery.
Many people seeking help with recovery in Dedham, MA, may wonder which method is correct. The answer to that is they could all be. Evidence-based research indicates that making more than one path available to people helps facilitate the recovery process. The pathway to recovery should be tailored to each individual.
Here are some of the recovery paths available to people seeking help.
Peer supported recovery
The first mention of 12-step recovery programs came in 1939 when Alcoholics Anonymous started using a 12-step process. The steps encourage peopleto abstain from the use of the substance they are addicted to while meeting with people who share similar addictions to talk about experiences, issues, and solutions to problems. Now, various 12-step groups follow the original AA model.
Behavioral Therapy
Multiple behavioral therapy techniques are designed to assist people with their recovery goals. All behavioral therapy programs are made to help people change their behaviors and attitudes toward whichever drug they felt was beneficial to them. Behavior therapy helps someone struggling with addiction identify triggers and ways to deal with those triggers appropriately.
Medication
It may seem contradictory, but sometimes substance abuse treatment programs require the use of medication to begin the treatment process. For example, methadone or suboxone might be prescribed for someone taking steps to recover from opioid addiction. Medications aren’t typically encouraged as a long-term solution, but they can benefit certain stages of the process.
Psychiatry
Psychiatry and psychotherapy techniques typically combine elements like behavioral therapy, support groups, and medication into one treatment plan. This path to recovery includes the treatment of substance abuse issues and co-occurring mental health issues. Often, this path to recovery also includes therapy sessions individually as well as offering group therapy solutions.
Support Groups
Support groups aren’t limited to 12-step groups like NA, AA, and CA. There are several other organizations and groups that encourage maintaining sobriety. All of these groups are designed to allow participants to share experiences and solutions while giving tips on how to enjoy social activities without returning to the use of substances.
Holistic Healing
Some people find they need a comprehensive approach to recovery. Holistic approaches include physical fitness measures as well as options like therapeutic massage, hypnotherapy, and acupuncture. These approaches are beneficial for restoring the body physically and for easing pain, stress, and anxiety. Another technique used as part of holistic healing is creating a healthy diet and increasing hydration levels.
Final Thoughts
No single path to recovery works for every individual. Those in Dedham, MA, who are seeking help with the recovery process should concentrate on the program that feels right for them. Sometimes it takes more than one path for someone to achieve recovery because addiction and mental health issues affect each person differently.