Last Sunday marked the beginning of Spring and with it comes the long thaw up to Summer. The transition from Winter into Spring is not just about the changing of seasons, it is also about changes with one’s self – or can be. People often associate Spring with a time to set new goals which they endeavor to achieve. Spring cleaning doesn’t apply only to dusting around the house; it’s about cleaning out the bad from your internal dwelling. Perhaps there are some things in your life that you would like to do away with, such as drinking and drugging?
It is quite common for people to add sobriety to their list of New Year’s resolutions. Every year, a number of people who have made an addiction recovery resolution, manage to learn how to live a life free from drugs and alcohol – maintaining a program of recovery. This is usually accomplished by entering a substance use disorder treatment center and/or attending 12-step recovery meetings. Unfortunately, some people do not succeed at bringing recovery resolutions to fruition, falling back into the cycle of addiction.
With the Spring Equinox still in the rear-view mirror, this may be a perfect time to give recovery an honest go – doing away with what doesn’t work in your life and adopt healthy practices for a successful future. If you have never been to a 12-step meeting, you may find it to be intimidating. Do not be discouraged, everyone sitting in a meeting house probably had similar feelings when they attended their first meeting.
It is often said in recovery circles that reaching out to newcomers is of the utmost importance. Those who found recovery before you were guided by those who came before them, and in turn they will not only make you feel welcome – they will help you learn how to live a life in recovery, the way they learned how. If you choose to move forward with the 12-step route of recovery, we implore you to keep an open mind – look and listen for the similarities you share with others, not the differences.
It’s possible that you may need more, initially, than just meetings. Depending on the type of substance you struggle with, and the severity of your addiction, checking into a treatment facility may be the best avenue. A number of treatment centers have detoxification units, which help clients to ease into recovery in safe way, mitigating withdrawal symptoms in closed environments – free from the distractions and triggers of the outside world. Treatment stays vary in length, but 90-day stays are generally considered to be the duration associated with the greatest chance of success. The longer the stay, the stronger you will be when you transition back into everyday life.
If you feel that treatment at an all male inpatient treatment facility would benefit you, please contact PACE Recovery Center. Our extended residential care program incorporates the principles of 12-Step recovery programs including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). We can offer you a safe and comfortable environment to begin your journey of addiction recovery.
